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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 30) appealed to people to keep places clean and tidy while celebrating New Year's Eve.
In conjunction with other government departments, the LCSD will implement measures on New Year's Eve to maintain cleanliness and safety in LCSD venues including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, UC Centenary Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars (AOS), Sha Tin Park, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and Podium where large crowds, those participating in the countdown in particular, are expected.
"Together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Police, we will increase patrols in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall areas and take action against littering, illegal hawking and vandalism of public property," an LCSD spokesman said.
"People are urged to keep places clean and tidy while celebrating New Year's Eve. Snow spraying or defacing public property is prohibited in all venues. People should take away all their belongings when they leave and not to leave trash behind. Those who litter will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500."
"Along both sides of the AOS and the seafront side of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, barriers will be placed to create one-metre-wide buffer zones to prevent anyone from accidentally falling into the harbour," the spokesman said.
"People staying in crowded areas should remain calm and mind their own safety. To help pedestrian flow, all removable items in the seafront area will be taken away," he said.
Anti-littering and crowd management messages in Cantonese, Putonghua and English will be broadcast regularly through public announcement systems at the HKCC Piazza, AOS, Sha Tin Park, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and Podium.
To keep LCSD venues clean, more refuse bins will be in place. Additional workers will also be deployed in the Tsim Sha Tsui, Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall areas to clear rubbish and perform overnight cleaning duties.
Ends/Saturday, December 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:01
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