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The central area of Victoria Harbour will be closed to marine traffic on October 1 (Wednesday) from 8pm to 10pm because of the 2003 National Day fireworks display.

The ban will be implemented in conjunction with the Marine Police and the Fire Services Department to ensure safety and smooth traffic at sea, a Marine Department spokesman said today (September 29).

"On October 1, two barges and eight pontoons off Wan Chai will set off fireworks at about 9pm. The surrounding waters will be closed from 3pm to 11pm to all traffic except craft directly involved in the fireworks display, government launches and other authorised vessels.

"From 8pm to 10pm, the traffic ban will be enlarged to cover all of the central harbour. Vessels, other than those with authorisation, will be prohibited from entering or remaining in the Restricted Area, which is bounded on the east by a straight line joining Hung Hom Railway Station Cargo Pier and the breakwater at Kellett Island, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, and on the west by a line joining the southwest extremity of Ocean Terminal and the Central Government Pier.

All vessels approaching the Restricted Area before or during the fireworks display, and vessels dispersing from viewing positions after the display should proceed at a safe speed (generally not exceeding five knots); maintain proper lookout; and avoid using searchinglights that may interfere with proper lookouts and affect safe operation of other vessels.

Before a voyage, coxswains or masters of vessels should ensure that passengers know where to find and how to use life saving appliances; that all children are wearing lifejackets; and that a passenger list has been prepared in the event of an emergency. Vessels must not exceed their carrying capacity.

Small vessels, in particular those with no decking or less than five metres in length, are advised not to proceed into or remain in the central harbour area during the event. In areas of high traffic density such small vessels are vulnerable to the wash from larger vessels and are not easily detected by larger vessels with high freeboard.

To assist in landward crowd control, all public piers and landing steps within the Restricted Area will be closed from 8pm to 10pm. Small craft are advised to make use of other public landing facilities during the closure period. Due to high demand for landing facilities within the Restricted Area soon after reopening of the landing facilities, it is inevitable that delays will be experienced at all public landing facilities in the central harbour area. If possible, masters should use landing areas away from the central harbour for disembarkation.

To ensure orderly disembarkation of passengers after the show, a sterile area will be set up at Queen's Pier and at Kowloon Public Pier from around 9.05pm till the end of the operation. These two sterile areas will include water areas stretching from the piers to a distance of about 90 metres offshore. All vessels must wait at designated gathering areas for their turn to enter from the east and thereafter depart from the west of the sterile areas. Marine Department and Marine Police launches will enforce the traffic measures.

For emergency assistance, contact the Marine Department on VHF radio channel 16 (call sign "Hong Kong Rescue"); the Marine Regional Command and Control Centre at 2803 6240, 2803 6241or 999; or issue appropriate distress signals.

In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks display may be postponed to October 2 (Thursday), starting at the same time with the same traffic arrangements as set out above.

For details of marine traffic arrangements, please read Marine Department Notice No.130 of 2003 at http://www.mardep.gov.hk.

End/Monday, September 29, 2003

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