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The Transport Department today (December 28) reminded the public of the special traffic and transport arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon on New Year's Eve (December 31).
A department spokesman said that in addition to the 45th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo at Victoria Park, celebration activities for the new year countdown would also be held at Times Square, Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, Lan Kwai Fong, Two International Finance Centre (IFC 2) and the area fronting Central Piers 7 and 8 on December 31. To facilitate crowd control by the Police, special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Causeway Bay, Central and Tsim Sha Tsui from that afternoon, in phases.
In the vicinity of Times Square, a section of Russell Street between Percival Street and Canal Road East, and a section of Matheson Street between Sharp Street East and Russell Street will be closed from about 5pm. From 6pm onwards, a section of Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road, Lee Garden Road, Pak Sha Road, Kai Chiu Road, Yun Ping Road, Jardine's Bazaar and other roads in the vicinity of Times Square, such as Yiu Wah Street and Tang Lung Street, will also be closed.
Depending on crowd situation at the Paterson Street shopping area, Sugar Street, Great George Street, Paterson Street and Kingston Street will be closed from 6pm to facilitate the crowd management for the Expo. Further road closures of the section of Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Gloucester Road, Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road east of Canal Road East and Cannon Street will be implemented at 8pm for countdown activities to be held at the World Trade Centre.
To facilitate the Jardine Midnight Gun Ceremony at Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, the unnamed access road at Victoria Park Road leading to Causeway Bay Promenade will be closed from 9pm.
In Lan Kwai Fong, the section of Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street will be closed from about 6pm. The whole section of D'Aguilar Street and the section of Wyndham Street from Glenealy to Queen's Road Central will be subsequently closed from about 8pm for crowd management.
In the Central Pier areas, the loading and unloading area fronting Central Piers 7 and 8 will be closed from noon for the holding of celebration activities. Road closures may also be implemented at Rumsey Street flyover, Man Kwong Street, Man Po Street, Man Fai Street, Man Chiu Street, Man Cheung Street, Finance Street and part of Man Yiu Street during the new year countdown event at IFC 2.
The spokesman said that as various celebration activities would be held in Causeway Bay at the same time, traffic on Gloucester Road heading for Times Square, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street, Lockhart Road and Leighton Road would be very congested. Public transport services operating at the affected areas will be temporarily diverted. Tram services to and from Happy Valley will be suspended from 6pm when Percival Street is closed.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, almost all roads south of Austin Road and Cheong Wan Road will be closed in stages from 6.30pm. The access road leading from Austin Road West to the public carpark at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade will be closed from 7.30pm onward. Public transport services operating at the affected areas will be temporarily diverted.
People who plan to go to the aforementioned areas are advised to use public transport services as far as possible. Motorists are advised to follow the traffic signs and avoid driving to the affected areas. They are also advised to exercise tolerance and patience and observe Police instructions. Members of the public should be alert to the latest broadcast on TV and radio channels.
Details of the special temporary traffic and transport arrangements have been uploaded on the department's website (www.td.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the 1823 Call Centre.
Ends/Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:43
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