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Police will implement special crowd management and traffic arrangements on both sides of Victoria Harbour on Friday (February 8) to facilitate the public to watch the Lunar New Year fireworks display.
To avoid overcrowding along the waterfronts on both sides of the harbour, a number of roads in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom, Central and Wan Chai will be closed or re-routed.
Members of the public are urged to follow the advice and instructions given by Police officers who may direct spectators to leave from places which have already been overcrowded.
They are also strongly advised to make full use of public transport for going to the waterfront areas and not to wait at the concourses and exits of MTR stations.
Road closure and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases on the Kowloon side as follows:
(A) Phase One (Closure of Hung Hom By-pass)
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Hung Hom By-pass will be closed at 5pm. The following traffic arrangements will be implemented:
1. Mody Lane and the lead-way outside Hotel Nikko between eastbound Salisbury Road and westbound Salisbury Road will be closed to traffic;
2. Traffic on eastbound Salisbury Road cannot turn left into northbound Mody Lane;
3. Traffic on westbound and eastbound Mody Road cannot turn left and right into southbound Mody Lane;
4. Traffic on eastbound Salisbury Road outside Hotel Nikko cannot turn right to the lead-way into westbound Salisbury Road;
5. Traffic from southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed off the Hung Hom By-pass to the roundabout of Cheong Tung Road South;
6. Traffic along southbound Princess Margaret Road Link cannot enter southbound Hung Hom By-pass;
7. Traffic on eastbound Metropolis Drive will be allowed to turn left into northbound Hung Hom By-pass but not be allowed to turn right into the southbound Hung Hom By-pass;
8. Southbound Salisbury Elevated Road near International Mail Centre and Hong Wan Path will be closed; and
9. Eastbound Hung Hom By-pass outside Empire Centre will be closed.
(B) Phase Two (Bus Diversion)
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The following traffic arrangements will be implemented from 6pm:
1. All franchised buses on southbound Nathan Road will be diverted into westbound Public Square Street and Jordan Road;
2. Southbound Kowloon Park Drive at its junction with Canton Road will be restricted for the use of franchised buses only;
3. Traffic on northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left into southbound Canton Road;
4. Buses along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left into Canton Road but can go straight to Wui Cheung Road Bus Terminus via Lin Cheung Road;
5. Buses along southbound Ferry Street can enter southbound Canton Road and turn right into Wui Cheung Road Bus Terminus;
6. Traffic on westbound Middle Road cannot turn left into southbound Kowloon Park Drive;
7. All franchised buses on southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to eastbound Granville Road where a temporary bus terminus will be provided;
8. A section of Granville Road east of Chatham Road South will be re-routed one way eastbound for the use of franchised buses and minibuses only;
9. Traffic on Science Museum Road cannot turn into Granville Road; and
10. Granville Square will be closed to all traffic.
(C) Phase Three (Pedestrianisation)
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Pedestrianisation will commence at about 6.15pm upon the completion of Phase Two arrangements. Depending on the crowd situation, Police may pedestrianise earlier upon confirmation that all buses have filtered off their original routes. The traffic measures are as follows:
1. A section of Canton Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road will be closed. Traffic along southbound Canton Road will be allowed access to the China Hong Kong City terminus or directed to make a U-turn to northbound Canton Road at its junction with Kowloon Park Drive;
2. Northbound Kowloon Park Drive, a section of Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive will be restricted to franchised buses only;
3. Haiphong Road, Ichang Street, Peking Road, Middle Road, Ashley Road, Hankow Road and Lock Road will be closed to traffic;
4. A section of Salisbury Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Science Museum Road will be closed;
5. A section of northbound Nathan Road between Salisbury Road and Bowring Street will be closed;
6. A section of southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road will be closed. All southbound traffic will be diverted to turn left into eastbound Granville Road;
7. A section of Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will be re-routed one way eastbound;
8. Traffic along northbound Carnarvon Road cannot turn left into westbound Kimberley Road;
9. Cameron Road will be closed. Traffic along southbound Chatham Road South cannot turn right into westbound Cameron Road;
10. Carnarvon Road junctions with Granville Road, Hau Fook Street, Cameron Lane, Humphreys Avenue, Prat Avenue, Hart Avenue, Hanoi Road, Cornwall Avenue, Bristol Avenue will be closed;
11. A section of northbound Chatham Road South between Salisbury Road and Granville Road will be closed;
12. A section of southbound Chatham Road South between Mody Road and Salisbury Road will be closed. Traffic on southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted to turn left into eastbound Mody Road;
13. A section of Mody Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road will be re-routed one way eastbound only. Traffic on Science Museum Road cannot turn into Mody Road;
14. Science Museum Path will be closed. Traffic on Hong Tat Path cannot turn into Science Museum Path;
15. Minden Row, Minden Avenue and Blenheim Avenue will be closed;
16. Salisbury Road/Middle Road access to MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Public Transport Interchange will be closed for traffic at Salisbury Road/Middle Road;
17. The access road from Austin Road West to West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade will be closed; and
18. Tsim Sha Tsui East Bus Terminus on Mody Road will be closed.
(D) Phase Four (Pedestrianisation of Star Ferry Concourse) ----------------------------------------------------------
Star Ferry Concourse will be pedestrianised at 6.30pm. Police may implement pedestrianisation or earlier when necessary. The closure of Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be implemented as follows:
1. Franchised buses going to Star Ferry Bus Terminus via southbound Kowloon Park Drive will be prohibited. They will be directed to make a U-turn at the junction of Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive. Buses will be allowed to drop off passengers outside Lai Chak School on Canton Road. No vehicles will be permitted to stop outside China Hong Kong City; and
2. All remaining buses at the Concourse will be directed to leave the terminus via northbound Kowloon Park Drive.
(E) Phase Five (Pedestrianisation)
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To facilitate dispersal of the crowd, the following measures will be implemented at 8pm:
1. A section of southbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Granville Road will be closed. Traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be diverted to westbound Jordan Road. A section of Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road will be closed to traffic. Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left into southbound Nathan Road;
2. Traffic along eastbound Austin Road cannot turn right into southbound Nathan Road;
3. Pine Tree Hill Road and Hillwood Road will be closed to traffic. Traffic on Austin Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;
4. Vehicles travelling along eastbound Austin Road will not be allowed to turn right into Austin Avenue;
5. A section of Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road, Kimberley Street, Shun Yee Street, Granville Road, Granville Circuit and a section of Carnarvon Road between Granville Road and Kimberly Road will be closed to traffic. Vehicles travelling along Observatory Road will not be allowed to turn into Kimberley Street;
6. A section of northbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Observatory Road will be closed to traffic;
7. A section of southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Granville Road will be restricted to franchised buses and minibuses only. Other traffic along southbound Chatham Road South will be diverted into Austin Road or Cheong Wan Road;
8. A section of southbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Mody Road will be closed and retained as an access route for emergency vehicles;
9. Mody Road and Mody Square will be closed to traffic; and
10. Southbound Salisbury Road will be closed at its junction with Hong Chong Road.
(F) Emergency vehicles access routes
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The following roads will be retained as emergency access routes for emergency vehicles during the period of road closure:
1. Southbound Kowloon Park Drive;
2. Southbound Chatham Road South;
3. Hung Hom By-pass from southbound Hung Hom Road; and
4. Westbound Austin Road West and the unnamed access road from Austin Road West to the Waterfront Promenade.
(G) Hotel access
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The vehicular access to and from hotels in the affected areas will not be allowed during the period of road closure.
Vehicles bearing hotel logos will be allowed to drop off passengers at the junctions of (a) Chatham Road South and Mody Road, and (b) Kowloon Park Drive and Peking Road before 8pm.
(H) Car park access
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Car parks affected by the road closure will be closed at 6pm and will remain closed as long as the road closure is effective.
(I) On-street parking
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With effect from 3pm on February 8 to 3am on February 9, all on-street parking in the southern areas of Tsim Sha Tsui (i.e. south of Austin Road and Cheong Wan Road), and the metered parking spaces at the Waterfront Promenade will be suspended. All illegally parked vehicles will be towed away.
(J) Public Transport
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All franchised buses terminus, bus stops, green mini-bus stops within the road closure area will be suspended. They will be re-located to Wui Cheung Road Bus Terminus and Granville Road Tsim Sha Tsui East Temporary Bus Terminus.
Crowd management measures will also be implemented in Tsim Sha Tsui as follows:
1. Spectators can stand along the promenade of the Cultural Centre, the Star Avenue, the Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade and West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade to watch the spectacular. The public carpark on West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade will be closed during the road closure period and public wishing to watch the spectacular on West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade are urged to use public transport.
2. Spectators are allowed to stand on the eastbound Hung Hom By-pass after 7pm. However, the westbound carriageway of Hung Hom By-pass and Salisbury Road will be reserved for the use of emergency vehicles only. Vehicles are also prohibited to enter southbound Chatham Road South, southbound Kowloon Park Drive and westbound Hung Hom By-pass.
3. Members of the public who want to cross Salisbury Road are advised to use either the crossing at the junction of Salisbury Road and Canton Road, or subways on Nathan Road, Kowloon Park Drive and outside the New World Centre.
4. There are a number of road works and construction sites in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and various Tsim Sha Tsui areas. Spectators are advised not to approach areas with road works and not to attempt to climb or lean against the hoarding/fence.
5. The Kowloon public pier will be closed in case it is overcrowded with spectators for the sake of public safety.
6. Spectators should follow police advice, posters and loudspeaker broadcasts on the evenings concerned.
Traffic arrangements to be implemented on Hong Kong Island are as follows:
(A) Road closure and traffic diversions before the display
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The following roads will be closed from 6.30pm onwards when necessary:
Wan Chai North
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1. Lung Wui Road, Tim Wa Avenue (except PLA vehicles), Tim Mei Avenue, Performing Arts Avenue, Fenwick Pier Street, Lung King Street and a section of northbound Fenwick Street between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;
2. Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central, Expo Drive East, Convention Avenue and Harbour Road (the westbound section between Fleming Road and Fenwick Street will remain open until 7.30pm and that between Tonnochy Road and Fleming Road will remain open until 7.45pm);
3. A section of northbound Fleming Road between Convention Avenue and Harbour Road;
4. Fleming Road Flyover and a section of Tonnochy Road between Harbour Road and Hung Hing Road;
5. Hung Hing Road, Wan Shing Street, Wan Ying Street, Hung Hing Road Flyover, Marsh Road Flyover; a section of Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hung Hing Road.
Wan Chai South
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1. The northbound carriageway of Percival Street between Jaffe Road and Gloucester Road service road may be closed when the situation warrants. When this section is closed, traffic on eastbound Jaffe Road must turn right to southbound Percival Street;
2. A section of Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;
3. A section of Tonnochy Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;
4. A section of Gloucester Road service road between Percival Street and Canal Road West may be closed when the situation warrants;
5. Vehicles on westbound Gloucester Road are not allowed to turn to Gloucester Road service road at the junction with O'Brien Road when the situation warrants; and
6. The southbound carriageway of Percival Street between Lockhart Road and Gloucester Road service road may be closed when the situation warrants. When this section is closed, traffic on eastbound Jaffe Road will be diverted via Canal Road West into Gloucester Road service road.
Central
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1. Edinburgh Place East except for vehicles leaving City Hall Car Park and The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Central Barracks.
The following roads will be closed from 7pm onwards when necessary:
Peak area
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1. The uphill section of Stubbs Road beyond Stubbs Road roundabout will be closed to all goods vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 5.5 tonnes;
2. Northbound Peak Road beyond the car park entrance at the Peak Galleria will be closed except for local residents;
3. Only vehicles with permits will be allowed to enter Lugard Road and Harlech Road;
4. Mount Austin Road and Barker Road will be restricted to local residents' vehicles; and
5. Lay-bys along Stubbs Road between Peak Road and Stubbs Road roundabout and a section of Magazine Gap Road between Peak Road and May Road will be closed.
Central
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1. A section of Chung Kong Road between Shun Tak Centre and Rumsey Street;
2. Man Kwong Street, Man Chiu Street and Man Fai Street;
3. A section of Man Yiu Street between Man Kwong Street and Man Cheung Street;
4. Rumsey Street flyover extension leading to Man Po Street;
5. Finance Street and Edinburgh Place;
6. Star Ferry Concourse; and
7. Loading and unloading area outside Central Pier 7, 8 and 9.
Eastern District
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Five minutes prior to the fireworks display, traffic on westbound Island Eastern Corridor between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street will be held except for franchised buses.
The following road diversions will also be implemented:
1. Vehicles travelling along westbound Island Eastern Corridor will be diverted to Man Hong Street; and
2. Access to westbound Island Eastern Corridor from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road will be banned.
(B) Arrangements after the fireworks display
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To facilitate the dispersal of the crowd after the fireworks display, the following traffic arrangements will be implemented 15 minutes before the completion of the display if necessary:
1. A section of Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road will be closed;
2. Sections of Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road will be closed;
3. Vehicles travelling on eastbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to northbound Canal Road West; and
4. Vehicles travelling on Canal Road West will be diverted to turn left to Gloucester Road service road.
(C) Suspension of parking spaces
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All parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended from 4pm to 10pm:
1. Edinburgh Place;
2. Gloucester Road service road, Lung King Street, Hung Hing Road and Expo Drive East;
3. A section of Stewart Road between Jaffe Road and Gloucester Road service road;
4. A section of Jaffe Road between Fleming Road and Stewart Road;
5. A section of Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Canal Road East; and
6. A section of Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road.
(D) Suspension of taxi, public light bus (PLB) and green minibus (GMB) stands
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1. Taxi stands on Expo Drive East, Tim Mei Avenue, Harbour Road and the Wan Chai Ferry Pier transport interchange will be suspended at 6.30pm;
2. Taxi stands on Man Kwong Street, Edinburgh Place, Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Canal Road East, Lockhart Road between O'Brien Road and Marsh Road, Stewart Road, Tonnochy Road, and outside the Central Pier 7 and 8 will be suspended between 7pm and 10.30pm;
3. The PLB stand on Lockhart Road near Canal Road West will be suspended from 7pm and 10.30pm; and
4. GMB stands on Lockhart Road, Jaffe Road, and Stewart Road will be suspended between 7pm and 10.30pm.
(E) Suspension of carparks
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1. Due to the above road closure, vehicles parked in various carparks within the closed areas will not be permitted to leave or enter these carparks during the road closure until the roads are re-opened for traffic; and
2. The carparks on a section of westbound Gloucester Road between Paterson Street and Percival Street will be closed at short notice if necessary.
(F) Suspension of bus stops
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1. Bus stops on Gloucester Road service road, situated to the west of Cannon Street, will be suspended from 7.30pm if the situation warrants;
2. The bus terminus at Expo Drive East and the Wan Chai Ferry Pier will be suspended from 6.30pm to 10.30pm; and
3. The bus terminus at Central Pier will be suspended from 7pm.
(G) Suspension of Cross Boundary Coach Service
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The terminating point of the Cross Boundary Coach Service between Wan Chai and Huanggang at the Wan Chai Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. It will be temporarily relocated to eastbound Hennessy Road under the O'Brien Road footbridge.
Police Report No. 1
Ends/Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:06
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