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Police will implement the following special traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island on December 31 (Thursday) to facilitate the New Year celebration.
Hong Kong Island
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(I) Wan Chai North
To facilitate members of the public to watch the pyrotechnic display, crowd safety management measures will be implemented at Wan Chai Promenade, Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central and Expo Drive East.
The following roads will be closed in phases:
Phase I (from 9pm till the crowd is dispersed)
- Expo Drive;
- Expo Drive Central; and
- Expo Drive East.
Phase II (from 11pm till the crowd is dispersed)
- Convention Avenue between Fenwick Pier Street and Fleming Road; and
- First left lane of northbound Fleming Road between Convention Avenue and slip road of No.1 Harbour Road.
(II) Central
A section of Man Kwong Street outside Pier No.8 will be closed from 9pm until the crowd is dispersed.
(III) Lan Kwai Fong
A. Crowd safety management measures
As a large number of people are expected, a queuing system will be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong. Once the queuing system is implemented, people wishing to enter the area will be required to join the queue and may have to wait an undetermined time to gain access. They are advised to allow adequate time to arrive at their venues.
Members of the public are urged not to bring or discharge aerosol spray in the vicinity as it may be hazardous to people nearby. Parents are advised not to bring children into the area.
B. Road closure
Phase I (From 6pm on December 31 to 6am the following day)
- D'Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
- Lan Kwai Fong;
- Wing Wah Lane;
- Wo On Lane;
- Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street; and
- On Lan Street.
Phase II (Anytime after 6pm on December 31 to 6am the following day)
- Road closure in Phase I;
- D'Aguilar Street between Queen's Road Central and Wellington Street;
- Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen's Road Central;
- Stanley Street between D﷿Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street; and
- Wellington Street between D﷿Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street.
After the completion of traffic diversion, crowds will be directed to queue up along Wellington Street, Pottinger Street, Stanley Street, D'Aguilar Street and Queen's Road Central. The whole section of D'Aguilar Street will be closed.
(IV) Causeway Bay Area
To help facilitate midnight countdown at World Trade Centre and the Jadines﷿ Midnight Gun Ceremony, crowd safety management measures and the following traffic arrangements will be implemented:
A. Pedestrianisation
The following roads will be pedestrianised from 4pm till the crowd is dispersed:
- Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;
- East Point Road; and
- Great George Street between Paterson Street and East Point Road.
B. Road closure and traffic diversions
The following traffic arrangments will be implemented in phases when necessary:
Phase I (From 6pm till the crowd is dispersed)
Road closure
- Sugar Street;
- Great George Street between Gloucester Road and Paterson Street;
- Westbound Kingston Street between Paterson Street and Gloucester Road;
- Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street;
- Southbound Gloucester Road between the ramp leading down from Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road; and
- Northbound Gloucester Road south of Kingston Street.
Traffic from Victoria Park Road flyover will be diverted to westbound Gloucester Road service road.
Phase II (From 8pm till the crowd is dispersed)
Road closure
- Kingston Street;
- Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Gloucester Road;
- Cleveland Street;
- Jaffe Road between Cannon Street and the World Trade Centre;
- If necessary, one lane of westbound Gloucester Road service road between Victoria Park Road flyover and Cannon Street;
- If necessary, northbound Tai Hang Road flyover;
- If necessary, Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Sin Street;
- If necessary, Electric Road between Lau Li Street and Lau Sin Street, except franchised buses and vehicles of residents of Park Towers; and
- If necessary, Tsing Fung Street, except franchised buses; and
If necessary, Lau Li Street may be re-routed from one-way eastbound to one-way westbound.
The lay-by on Victoria Park Road outside Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter will be suspended from 9pm till the crowd is dispersed.
(V) Island Eastern Corridor
The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented at westbound Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) from 11.55pm till the pyrotechnic display finished, except franchised buses:
- Traffic along westbound IEC will be diverted to Man Hong Street; and
- Slip roads leading to westbound IEC from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road will be closed.
Traffic along eastbound IEC will remain open. Police will patrol along the IEC to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
(VI) Suspension of parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces on the slip road outside Lower Peak Tram Terminus will be suspended from 9am on December 31 to 7am the following day.
Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended between 10am on December 31 and 11.59pm the following day, except motorcycle parking spaces near the exit of car park and disabled parking spaces.
All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 4pm on December 31 to 2am the following day:
- Expo Drive;
- Expo Drive East; and
- Lung King Street.
All metered parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road between King﷿s Road and Wun Sha Street will be suspended from 5pm on December 31 to 2am the following day.
All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 5pm on December 31 to 6am the following day:
- Stanley Street near D﷿Aguilar Street;
- Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D'Aguilar Street; and
- On Lan Street.
Car parks on Great George Street will be closed from 6pm on December 31 to 2am the following day. Vehicles will not be permitted to access car parks along the affected area during the road closure period.
(VII) Hotel access
During the road closure period, vehicles will not be permitted to access the hotel at Great George Street. Hotels in the affected area may make use of the bus stop outside Sino Plaza on Gloucester Road to pick-up and drop-off guests taking airport shuttle.
(VIII) Learner driver prohibition
Learner drivers will not be permitted to access the following roads from 6pm to 11.30pm on December 31:
- Tung Lo Wan Road;
- Hing Fat Street; and
- Electric Road between Wing Hing Street and Yacht Street.
Kowloon
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I. Crowd safety management measures
The New Year﷿s Eve Countdown celebration and pyrotechnic show is expected to attract a large number of people to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade. Police will implement crowd safety management measures in the area.
Starting from 8pm, Police will implement road closures in Tsim Sha Tsui area. Only emergency vehicles and vehicles with permits are allowed to enter the closed area. Depending on the prevailing crowd situation, Police will adopt safety measures within the pedestrianised area including closing pedestrian subways and putting up barriers. One-way flow will also be applied in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade and the crowded footbridges. If necessary, restrictions on access to MTR stations will be put into force by the MTR Corporation.
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre Complex and the vicinity of the Clock Tower are known to be popular gathering and vantage points. If these areas are saturated, the crowd will be diverted to other areas. Due to the closure of the Avenue of Stars, special crowd management measures will also be implemented. People going to and from Waterfront Promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui East and Star Ferry Pier will be diverted to the pavement in Salisbury Road. Members of the public who planned to watch the pyrotechnic display at the Avenue of Stars are advised to go to other vantage points such as the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade or Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Promenade near Hung Hom area.
At present, there are a number of construction works at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station Exit A1 at Nathan Road near Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Exit D1 and D2 at Nathan Road near Carnarvon Road, Express Railway construction site on Austin Road West in addition to the revitalisation works in Salisbury Garden and Avenue of Stars. The contractors have erected hoardings and barriers to seal off the area concerned with relevant notices displayed. Members of the public are urged not to enter these construction areas.
Police appeal to the public to follow the instructions given by Police officers and take heed of Police signage and broadcasts at scene. They are also urged not to conduct street performance, or to use snow or aerosol spray to avoid causing obstruction or potential danger to others in the crowded area.
II. Road closure and traffic diversions
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in phases:
Phase I (From 8pm till the crowd is dispersed)
A. Road closure
- Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;
- Princess Margaret Road Link between Metropolis Drive and Hung Hom Bypass;
- Westbound Salisbury Road between Cheong Wan Road and Kowloon Park Drive, including Salisbury Road elevated road;
- Eastbound Salisbury Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Science Museum Road;
- The U-turn slip-road near No.72 Mody Road leading from eastbound Salisbury Road to westbound Salisbury Road;
- Mody Lane;
- Hong Wan Path;
- Canton Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road;
- Kowloon Park Drive, except franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs);
- Salisbury Road between Star Ferry Pier and Kowloon Park Drive, except franchised buses and GMBs;
- Ashley Road;
- Hankow Road;
- Lock Road;
- Northbound Nathan Road between Bowring Street and Salisbury Road;
- Southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
- Carnarvon Road between Bristol Avenue and Granville Road;
- Bristol Avenue;
- Hanoi Road;
- Hart Avenue;
- Minden Row;
- Blenheim Avenue;
- Middle Road;
- Hau Fook Street;
- Cameron Lane;
- Cameron Road;
- Prat Avenue;
- Humphreys Avenue;
- Peking Road;
- Haiphong Road;
- Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Nathan Road;
- Westbound Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road;
- Minden Avenue;
- Northbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;
- Southbound Chatham Road South between Mody Road and Salisbury Road;
- Granville Square;
- Science Museum Path;
- An unnamed access road between Austin Road West and West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade; and
- Ichang Street.
B. Traffic diversions
- Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout via Hung Hom Bypass;
- Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Princess Margaret Road Link;
- Traffic along southbound Princess Margaret Road Link will be diverted to turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;
- Traffic along eastbound Mody Road cannot turn to Mody Lane;
- Franchised buses along southbound Nathan Road will be diverted to turn right to either westbound Public Square Street or westbound Jordan Road;
- Franchised buses along southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
- Traffic along southbound Canton Road will be diverted to u-turn to northbound Canton Road outside China Hong Kong City;
- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;
- Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will be re-routed to one-way eastbound;
- Traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Granville Road;
- Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn right to westbound Cameron Road;
- Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Mody Road;
- Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to westbound Mody Road;
- Traffic along Hong Tat Path cannot turn to Science Museum Path;
- Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to Granville Road;
- Traffic along westbound Salisbury Road near Cheong Wan Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East;
- Granville Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road will be re-routed to one-way eastbound and restricted for the use of franchised buses and GMBs only;
- Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn left to eastbound Granville Road, except franchised buses and GMBs;
- Traffic along eastbound Granville Road will be diverted to turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
- Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road will be diverted to turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive;
- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road; and
- Traffic along Austin Road West cannot turn left to the unnamed access road towards West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.
Phase II (From 8.30pm till the crowd is dispersed)
A. Road closure
- Kowloon Park Drive;
- Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive; and
- Star Ferry Pier Bus Terminus.
B. Traffic diversions
- Franchised buses and GMBs cannot enter southbound Kowloon Park Drive.
Phase III (From 10.30pm till the crowd is dispersed)
A. Road closure
- Austin Road West between Canton Road and Nga Cheung Road;
- Nga Cheung Road flyover between Podium Level Private Road (North) of MTR Kowloon Station and its exit on Austin Road West;
- Nga Cheung Road between ground level Station Perimeter Road (South) of MTR Kowloon Station and Austin Road West;
- Kin Wan Street;
- Wui Man Road between Austin Road West and Wui Cheung Road; and
- Westbound Wui Cheung Road between Canton Road and Wui Man Road.
B. Traffic diversions
- Traffic along westbound Austin Road cannot enter Austin Road West;
- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Station Perimeter Road (South) of MTR Kowloon Station;
- Traffic along westbound Station Perimeter Road (South) of MTR Kowloon Station will be diverted to turn right to northbound Nga Cheung Road;
- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road flyover will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Podium Level Private Road (North) of MTR Kowloon Station;
- Traffic along westbound Podium Level Private Road (North) of MTR Kowloon Station will be diverted to turn right to northbound Nga Cheung Road flyover;
- Traffic along southbound D1A(S) will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Wui Cheung Road;
- Traffic along Hung Luen Road cannot turn to Kin Wan Street;
- Traffic along northbound Canton Road cannot turn left to Austin Road West; and
- Traffic along Canton Road cannot turn to Wui Cheung Road.
Phase IV (From 11.30pm till the crowd is dispersed
A. Road closure
- Northbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Bowring Street;
- Southbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Granville Road;
- Pine Tree Hill Road;
- Carnarvon Road between Kimberley Road and Granville Road;
- Shun Yee Street;
- Granville Circuit;
- Northbound Chatham Road South between Observatory Road and Granville Road;
- Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road;
- Tak Shing Street between Nathan Road and Tak Hing Street;
- Hillwood Road;
- Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road;
- Kimberley Street;
- Granville Road between Nathan Road and Chatham Road South;
- Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Mody Road, except franchised buses and GMBs;
- Eastbound Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road; and
- Mody Square.
B. Traffic diversions
- Traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be diverted to turn right to westbound Jordan Road;
- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Nathan Road;
- Traffic along westbound Austin Road and southbound Cox﷿s Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;
- Traffic along Observatory Road cannot turn to westbound Kimberley Street;
- Traffic along westbound Cheong Wan Road cannot turn left to southbound Chatham Road South;
- Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to westbound Austin Road or eastbound Cheong Wan Road;
- Traffic along northbound Pilkem Street cannot turn right to eastbound Bowring Street; and
- Traffic along eastbound Bowring Street will be diverted to northbound Pilkem Street.
The following traffic arrangements will be implemented when necessary:
A. Road closure
- Hung Luen Road between Wa Shun Street and Hung Lok Road; and
- Oi King Street.
B. Traffic diversions
- Traffic along westbound Hung Luen Road will be diverted to turn left to Wa Shun Street;
- Traffic along Wa Shun Street will be diverted to turn right to eastbound Hung Luen Road;
- Traffic along southbound Hung Lok Road cannot turn left to eastbound Hung Luen Road;
- Traffic along eastbound Hung Luen Road will be diverted to turn left to northbound Hung Lok Road; and
- Traffic along northbound Canton Road cannot turn right to eastbound Austin Road, except franchised buses and GMBs.
III. Hotel access
Vehicular access to and from hotels within the affected area will not be permitted during the road closure period. Vehicles bearing a hotel logo will only be allowed to drop off passengers at the following locations before the road closure implementation:
- Kowloon Park Drive;
- Peking Road;
- Chatham Road South; and
- Mody Road.
IV. Suspension of car parks
Vehicles will not be permitted to leave car parks along the affected area during the road closure period.
V. Suspension of on-street parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces in the southern area of Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. the south of Austin Road and Cheong Wan Road) will be suspended from 3pm on December 31 to 3am the following day.
Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above may be towed without prior warning or subject to multiple ticketing.
Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.
Ends/Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:05
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