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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (January 25) appealed to people to keep places clean and tidy while enjoying the Lunar New Year Fireworks Display on January 30 (2nd day of Lunar New Year).
During the festivities, the LCSD and other government departments, will implement a series of measures to maintain cleanliness and safety in LCSD venues including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars (AOS), UC Centenary Garden and West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade where large crowds are expected.
"Together with law enforcement teams of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Police, we will strengthen patrols in the Tsim Sha Tsui area 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 enjoying the Lunar New Year Fireworks Display. People should take away all their belongings when they leave and not leave trash behind. Those who litter will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500."
Certain areas of the HKCC Piazza and its adjacent marine deck are currently closed for works as part of the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade Beautification Project and people are urged not to congregate in the surrounding areas during the festive season.
"Along both sides of the AOS and the seafront side of Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and West Kowloon Waterfront 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 HKCC, AOS and West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.
To keep LCSD venues clean, more refuse bins will be supplied. Additional workers will also be deployed in the Tsim Sha Tsui area to clear rubbish swiftly and perform overnight cleaning duties.
Ends/Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:44
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