*******************************************************
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 21) appealed to people to keep places clean and tidy while celebrating Christmas.
During Christmas, several government departments will implement a series of measures to maintain the cleanliness and safety in LCSD venues including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC), Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars (AOS) and UC Centenary Garden 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," a department spokesman said.
"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 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 and AOS.
To keep department 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.
Also, crowd management measures will be implemented at Nan Lian Garden when necessary to ensure park-goers can visit the garden in an orderly manner. To avoid visitors queueing for a long time outside the garden when it is crowded, free admission tickets will be distributed at the main entrance to the garden and at Nan Lian Garden service kiosk set up at Exit C2 of Diamond Hill MTR station. Ticket-holders can enter the garden at the designated time later that day. Garden ambassadors and volunteer workers will also help to maintain order.
Ends/Thursday, December 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:43
NNNN