According to figures released by the Public Security Police Force, total cross-border movements across Macau’s checkpoints reached 760,363 on December 31st. This included 180,502 inbound visitors and 101,488 outbound travellers. That evening, an eight-minute New Year fireworks show was held along the Cotai Strip, drawing large crowds who arrived early and then dispersed simultaneously after midnight, placing heavy pressure on surrounding transport infrastructure.
Visitors posting on mainland Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu said there were no clear crowd-control or dispersal arrangements after the fireworks ended. Several described congestion and pushing along pedestrian routes and near border checkpoints. One user wrote that “people were packed in front and behind, completely unable to move”, while others said poor signage made it difficult to identify exit routes, fuelling fears of potential stampedes.
Some posts also cited a shortage of late-night public bus services and difficulty securing taxis, with reported waiting times stretching to several hours during the early morning. Others said crowds remained at the Hengqin border crossing and nearby light rail stations well into the night, with some travellers reportedly queueing until dawn before being able to depart.
The online accounts sparked widespread discussion, with many netizens questioning the adequacy of transport planning and real-time coordination for large-scale public events.
Commentators urged authorities to strengthen crowd-flow forecasting, implement clearer zoning and dispersal measures, and deploy additional temporary transport arrangements during major festive events to ensure public safety and orderly travel.
