Public urged to keep places clean while celebrating New Year's Eve
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     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (December 30) appealed to members of the public to keep places clean and mind their safety while celebrating New Year's Eve.

     In conjunction with other government departments, the LCSD will implement measures tomorrow evening, New Year's Eve, to maintain cleanliness and safety at LCSD venues, especially in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza, Urban Council Centenary Garden, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars (AOS), Middle Road Children's Playground, Tsim Sha Tsui East Waterfront Podium Garden, West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, Sha Tin Park, and Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and City Art Square, where large crowds are expected, with many participating in the countdown.

     A spokesman for the LCSD said, "Our staff, together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Police, will step up patrols at our venues 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.

     "People are urged to keep places clean and tidy while celebrating New Year's Eve. Snow spraying or defacing public property are prohibited at all venues. People should take away all their belongings when they leave the venues. They should not leave trash behind. Those who litter will be liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500.

     "People who are in crowded areas should remain calm and mind their safety. To facilitate pedestrian flow, all removable items in the seafront areas will be taken away," the spokesman added.

     The public announcement systems at the HKCC Piazza, AOS, Sha Tin Park, and Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and City Art Square will also broadcast anti-littering and crowd management messages in Cantonese, Putonghua and English on a regular basis during the holidays.

Ends/Thursday, December 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:01

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