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The Administration Wing announced today (September 8) that the East Wing Forecourt (the Forecourt) of the Central Government Offices (CGO), Tamar, will be re-opened on September 10 upon completion of the perimeter fencing works.
Upon re-opening of the Forecourt, there will be no change to the access arrangement whereby visitors to the CGO and the Legislative Council (LegCo) Complex will be generally allowed to enter or pass through the Forecourt pavement as a passageway during the daytime. The Forecourt will be closed to general access from 11pm to 6am daily. LegCo Members and personnel holding a valid staff/media permit issued by the CGO or the LegCo will be allowed access as usual. During the period when the Forecourt is closed, if members of the public need to visit the LegCo, they may use other alternative routes via the Tamar Park, or the escalators or elevators connecting the elevated walkway to Harcourt Road and Tim Mei Avenue for access to the LegCo Complex.
The above access arrangement will be subject to review from time to time. Upon completion of the extension of the CITIC Tower footbridge to the LegCo Complex by 2015, the footbridge will become a separate and covered route which may be used for direct access from Admiralty to the LegCo Complex.
The current application procedure for permission to use the Forecourt for public meetings/processions will continue. Members of the public may apply for permission to use the Forecourt for public meetings/processions from September 14 onwards during specified hours between 10am and 6.30pm on Sundays and public holidays.
A section of the pavement at Tim Mei Avenue outside the Forecourt will continue to be a designated public activity area where the public may hold public meetings or submit petition letters to the Government at any time without having to seek prior approval from the Government, subject to compliance of the relevant provisions under the Public Order Ordinance governing public meetings/processions.
For the guidance notes and application form on the use of the Forecourt for public meetings/processions, please visit the webpage of the Administration Wing: www.admwing.gov.hk/eng/public_service/pservices.htm.
Ends/Monday, September 8, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:19
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