*****************************************************
Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements in the vicinity of the Victoria Park on June 4 (Saturday) to facilitate the holding of a public meeting at the park.
Crowd safety management measures
--------------------------------
With the exception of Gate 5, all the gates to the event venue will be opened to arriving participants.
Participants are encouraged to use public transport to Victoria Park. Crowds are expected to arrive at Victoria Park primarily through two ingress points: from the west via Gates 6 and 7 (entrances near Sugar Street and Great George Street) and to the east through Gate 14 (Hing Fat Street near Lau Sin Street). Participants arriving by MTR are advised to use MTR exits A1 and A2 in Tin Hau Station to reach Lau Sin Street and Gate 14 for convenient access to Victoria Park. Depending on the developing crowd situation, a queuing system will be initiated at the car park area along Hing Fat Street to facilitate the arriving crowds (See diagram 1).
When the football pitches 1 to 6 are saturated, the marshals will direct the participants coming from the east side to the Central Lawn along the South Boulevard, or direct the participants coming from the west side to the Central Lawn along the West Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard (See diagram 2).
When the Central Lawn is also saturated, the marshals will direct the participants coming from the east side to the Band Stand along the East Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard, or direct the participants coming from the west side to the Band Stand along the West Boulevard and then via the North Boulevard (See diagram 3).
Depending on the developing crowd situation, a queuing system will be initiated along a section of Gloucester Road service road to facilitate the arriving crowds. Participants are not allowed to gather at Gloucester Road service road at any time to avoid causing obstruction. Police will also implement crowd safety management measures along Gloucester Road service road to facilitate members of the public to enter the park.
For the safety of all attendees, Police have designated both the South Boulevard and Middle Boulevard as the emergency vehicle access (EVA). In the event of an emergency where urgent assistance is required, vehicles may require speedy access along this route. Notices demarcating the EVA will be posted by the Police.
To facilitate the arrival of participants, particularly to the Central Lawn area, Police will open up a section of the EVA, i.e. the section between Gate 14 and the junction of Middle Boulevard and South Boulevard (See diagram 4). For public safety, the EVA will be retained about 30 minutes after the commencement of the event (at about 8.30pm), so that emergency vehicles could gain access without obstruction when necessary. For such reason, participants are advised not to gather at the EVA at any time.
The maintenance of the EVA is of paramount importance for the safety of the attending participants. Police appeal to participants to keep away from the EVA in case emergency vehicles are responding to any emergencies. All persons operating promotional or souvenir stalls should prevent blockages of gates and the ingress routes.
On the event day, there will be public announcements inside Victoria Park to keep participants informed of the latest situation and amendments to arrangements. Participants are requested to adhere to the directions given by the event marshals and Police officers on site.
Special traffic arrangements
----------------------------
The following traffic arrangements may be implemented between noon and 11.59pm depending on the traffic and crowd situation:
A. Road closure
The kerbside lane of Lau Sin Street between Electric Road and Hing Fat Street may become pedestrian walkway from 5pm, except vehicles of local residents making access to or exit from Park Towers.
The carriageway of Great George Street beside its northern and southern pavement may become pedestrian walkway from 4pm.
Depending on the prevailing crowd and traffic situation, the following roads may be closed from 4pm until the crowd has dispersed:
- Sugar Street;
- Great George Street;
- Cleveland Street;
- Kingston Street;
- Paterson Street;
- Northbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and Gloucester Road service road; and
- Gloucester Road U-turn slip road between southbound and northbound Gloucester Road near Causeway Road.
The following roads may be closed from 6pm until the crowd has dispersed:
- Southbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and westbound Gloucester Road. Southbound Tai Hang Road flyover will then be closed simultaneously;
- Northbound Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Li Street, except franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs);
- Electric Road between Yacht Street and Hing Fat Street, except vehicles of local residents making access to or exit from Park Towers; and
- If necessary, Electric Road between Yacht Street and Tsing Fung Street, and Lau Li Street between Hing Fat Street and Ngan Mok Street, except vehicles of local residents making access to or exit from Park Towers and car parks along the closed roads.
Tai Hang Road flyover may be closed at departure phase. Traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road downhill will be diverted to Tung Lo Wan Road.
B. Traffic diversions
The following traffic diversions will be implemented during the road closure period:
- Lau Li Street between Electric Road and Hing Fat Street will be re-routed to one-way westbound. Public light buses are not allowed to enter;
- Traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot enter Sugar Street;
- Traffic along westbound Gloucester Road cannot turn left to southbound Cleveland Street or southbound Paterson Street;
- Traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to Kingston Street or northbound Gloucester Road;
- Traffic along Victoria Park Road flyover heading for Tai Hang Road flyover will be diverted to use eastbound Victoria Park Road, Wing Hing Street, King's Road and Tung Lo Wan Road;
- Traffic along Victoria Park Road flyover heading for Tai Hang Road flyover must turn right to westbound Gloucester Road;
- Traffic along eastbound Causeway Road cannot turn left to northbound Hing Fat Street, except franchised buses and GMBs;
- Traffic along southbound Electric Road will be diverted to turn left to eastbound Yacht Street, except vehicles of local residents making access to or exit from Park Towers;
- If necessary, traffic along southbound Electric Road will be diverted to turn right to westbound Tsing Fung Street, except vehicles of local residents making access to or exit from Park Towers and car parks along the closed roads; and
- If necessary, traffic along northbound Ngan Mok Street will be diverted to turn right to eastbound Lau Li Street.
C. Suspension of parking spaces and car parks
Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended between noon and 11.59pm, except disabled parking spaces. During road closure period, vehicles may not be allowed to enter or leave car parks on the closed roads.
Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the area. Motorists are advised to pay attention to special traffic signs and take heed of instructions of Police at scene.
Ends/Thursday, June 2, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:54
NNNN