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The Transport Department (TD) today (December 27) reminded members of 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 48th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo (Expo) at Victoria Park, celebration activities for the New Year countdown will also be held at Times Square, World Trade Centre, Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, Lan Kwai Fong, Two International Finance Centre and the area fronting Central Piers 9 and 10 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, a section of Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road, Pak Sha Road, Kai Chiu Road, a section of Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road, Matheson Street, a section of Canal Road East between Hennessy Road and Sharp Street East, Foo Ming Street, 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 the crowd situation in the Paterson Street shopping area, Sugar Street, Great George Street, Paterson Street, Kingston Street and a section of Gloucester Road between Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road will be closed from 6pm for crowd management for the Expo. Further closures of a section of Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Gloucester Road, a section of Lockhart Road between Canal Road West and Cannon Street, a section of Jaffe Road between Canal Road West and Cannon Street, a section of Canal Road East between Gloucester Road and Lockhart Road, 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, a section of Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street, a section of D'Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Wing Wah Lane and Wo On Lane will be closed from about 6pm. D'Aguilar Street, a section of Wyndham Street from Glenealy to Queen's Road Central, On Lan Street, a section of Stanley Street between D'Aguilar Street and Pottinger Street and a section of Wellington Street between D'Aguilar Street and Pottinger Street will also be closed from about 8pm for crowd management.
In the Central Pier areas, road closures may be implemented at Rumsey Street flyover, Man Kwong Street, Man Po Street, Man Fai Street, Man Chiu Street, Finance Street and part of Man Yiu Street during the New Year countdown event at Central Pier No. 9.
The spokesman said that as various celebration activities will 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 will be very congested. Public transport services operating in 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 8pm. The access road leading from Austin Road West to West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade will also be closed from 8pm. Public transport services operating at the affected areas will be temporarily diverted.
People who plan to go to the aforesaid areas are advised to use public transport services as far as possible. Motorists are advised to follow traffic signs and avoid driving into the affected areas. They are also advised to exercise tolerance and patience, observe Police instructions and be alert to the latest traffic news on radio.
Details of the special temporary traffic and transport arrangements are available on the department's website (www.td.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the 1823 Call Centre (Tel: 1823).
Ends/Friday, December 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:00
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