Briefs | 410,000 visitors cross Border Gate

More than 410,000 people crossed the Gongbei Port/Border Gate last Saturday, a week before the beginning of Chinese New Year. Customs officials said that the majority of visitors were mainland residents in town for New Year sales, even as multiple tourists postponed their visits due to last week’s extreme weather conditions. The crowds at Gongbei Port prompted customs authorities to divide visitors into three queues outside the departure hall. Those waiting in line outside had to join further queues upon entry to the building. A Times reporter noted that the process, though tedious, was ultimately a necessary measure to ease congestion. A Gongbei border official said that the flow of tourists peaked on Saturday morning and held steady for almost ten hours.

C2 discusses local entertainment production

The thirteenth issue of C2 magazine will be launched tomorrow. Published by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the periodical invites two video production companies with different market positions and characteristics to discuss the development of local entertainment production. In the “Feature” column, C2 interviews Hin U, founder of Pride Entertainment Productions, who aims to develop his company in all aspects of show business.  The new “Opinion” column invites Wilson Lam, CEO of Macao Creations, to share his insights on the transition of the local design industry.

Most diesel vehicles pass emissions test

The Transportation Bureau (DSAT) reported that 501 of the 668 diesel vehicles examined in 2015 passed an emissions test. Last year, DSAT conducted 93 random vehicle inspections in 20 locations, 25 percent of which failed emissions testing. DSAT said the street inspections were a means of assessing and controlling local pollution levels.  A total of 86 heavy load trucks, 211 light load trucks, 88 shuttle buses, 60 buses, and 56 taxis were randomly inspected over the course of 2015. More than 80 percent of taxis passed the emissions test, a step up from 57 percent the previous year.