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A large crowd is expected to watch this year's Bun Scrambling Competition at the soccer pitch of Cheung Chau Pak Tai Temple Playground from 11.30pm on May 2 (Saturday) to 12.40am on May 3.
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the festive event is expected to attract Hong Kong people and overseas visitors to Cheung Chau.
Measures are in place to enable people to watch the competition in an orderly manner. The Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee, the LCSD, Islands District Council, Islands District Office, Police and Transport Department announced details of the arrangements at a joint press conference today (April 22).
The LCSD's Chief Leisure Manager (New Territories West), Miss Sylvia Tang, said that the opening ceremony of the Bun Scrambling Competition would begin at 11.30pm on May 2, while the contest will start at midnight. The venue will be divided into five zones, with one of the zones designated for invited guests and the other four for the public. Miss Tang said that due to limited space, apart from invited guests, only 1,500 spectators would be accommodated in the soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground.
"People who are interested in watching the competition at the soccer pitch are requested to queue at Pak She First Lane, next to Cheung Chau Fire Station, and along Ping Chong Road. Admission tickets will be distributed at 10pm. Each person can obtain one ticket while the tickets last," Miss Tang said.
Spectators who have got their tickets should wait in the queue. When admission starts at 10.30pm, people should follow the instructions from the Police and staff of the organisers and enter, in sequence, the Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3 and then Zone 4 in an orderly manner.
TVB Jade, iNews Digital Channel, TVB Payvision News Channel, Cable TV Live News Channel, now Direct Channel and Phoenix Info News Channel will live broadcast the event, so people can choose to enjoy the spectacle at home.
Notices will be put up from 6pm at Pier 5 in Central informing people of the schedule of the event. Notice and enquiry counters will be put up at Cheung Chau Pier and the entrance of the Pak Tai Temple Playground. People are advised to pay attention to the announcements.
Acting Divisional Commander of the Hong Kong Police Force Cheung Chau Division, Mr Law Tung-wah, said sufficient Police manpower would be deployed for crowd management.
The Senior Transport Officer (Planning/Ferry), Miss Polly Chan, said the Transport Department would closely monitor the demand for public transport and would keep in close contact with the ferry and bus companies for making necessary transport arrangements.
"With many people leaving after the event, First Ferry will arrange an additional ferry trip from Cheung Chau to Central at 1.15am on May 3. Extra ferry services will be arranged when necessary," Miss Chan said.
From about 12.30am to 2.30am on May 3, a special cross harbour bus route 104R will operate, running from Pier 5 in Central to Mong Kok. Overnight bus services, which depart from Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Central, will be re-routed to operate via Pier 5 in Central for passengers' convenience. These routes are: N8X (to Siu Sai Wan), N90 (to South Horizons), N182 (to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin) and N619 (to Shun Lee, Kwun Tong).
Liaison Officer-in-charge (Cheung Chau) of Islands District Office, Miss Winnie Fok, said the manpower of Hospital Authority St John Hospital would be strengthened and additional manpower of the Government Flying Service would be on standby to provide necessary rescue or transport by helicopter.
Miss Tang appealed to those people who wanted to watch the competition in Cheung Chau to co-operate and follow instructions given by the police and working staff of the organisers. To enjoy this traditional activity, they are advised to be patient in crowded places.
Ends/Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:26
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