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Police will implement special traffic arrangements and crowd management in various parts on Hong Kong Island during Christmas to facilitate the public to celebrate the festive season.

The arrangements from December 24 to December 26 are as follows:

A. Lan Kwai Fong

As large number of people are expected, those wishing to enter Lan Kwai Fong may have to wait an undetermined time to gain access. Those with restaurant bookings are advised to arrive at their venue early. Once the queuing system is implemented, people wishing to enter the area will be required to join the queue.

Parents are advised not to bring small children into the area. The usual pedestrianization will be introduced at 5 pm on December 24 and 25 and at 7 pm on December 26. These restrictions will be lifted at 4 am on December 25, 26 and 27. Should the situation warrant, further road closures will be introduced in phases:

Phase I.

A section of Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D' Aguilar Street will be closed.

Phase II.

If D'Auguilar Street is packed with people, the crowd will be directed to queue up along Wellington Street, west of D'Aguillar Street and then back to Pottinger Street, Stanley Street and Queen's Road Central. The whole of D'Aguilar Street will be closed to traffic.

Phase III.

Wyndham Street from Glenealy to Queen's Road Central will also be closed to facilitate crowd dispersal.

B. Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct

Starting 8 pm on December 24 until 12 am on December 27, the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct will be put in place. The following roads will be closed:

- A section of Chater Road between Pedder Street and Jackson Road;

- A section of Ice House Street between Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central.

C. Garden Road

To facilitate the dispersal of people after a religious gathering in St.Joseph's Church on Garden Road sometime between midnight and 1 am on December 25, the outer lane of Garden Road between Kennedy Road and Lady May Path may be coned off for pedestrians.

D. Victoria Park (38th Hong Kong Product Expo)

The following roads will be pedestrianised from 4 pm to midnight on weekdays and from 12 noon to midnight on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays:

- A section of Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;

- East Point Road; and

- A section of Great George Street west of Paterson Street.

Road closure/traffic diversions

During the event, the following road closures and traffic diversions may be implemented to increase the crowd flow at the vicinity:

- Sugar Street will be closed;

- A section of Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street will be closed;

- A section of Gloucester Road between the ramp leading from Victoria Park Road Flyover and Causeway Road will be closed.

- Hing Fat Street will intermittently be closed from vehicular traffic except franchised buses and green mini buses, commensurate with the situation of crowd dispersal;

- Traffic from Victoria Park Road Flyover will be diverted to westbound Goucester Road service road; and

- Great George Street will be closed.

E. Suspension of car parks

- The Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended except for police vehicles and vehicles bearing special permit issued by the organiser from December 13 to 12 noon on January 2, 2004; and

- Vehicles access to public car parks at Great George Street and the Park Lane Hotel within the closed roads will be prohibited. Vehicles parked in these car parks and hotel will not be permitted to leave until the closed roads are re-opened.

F. Suspension of on-street parking and green minibus stand

Motorcycle parking spaces and the green minibus stand on Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street will be suspended from 6 pm on December 24 to 6 am on the following day. The motorcycle parking spaces on On Lan Street will also be suspended during the same period.

G. Suspension of bus stops

All bus stops on D'Aguilar Street between Queen's Road Central and Wellington Street will be suspended between 6 pm on December 24 to 26 and 6 am on the following day.

H. Illegal parking

Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above may be towed without prior warning or may be subject to multiple ticketing.

Police appeal to members of the public to exercise patience and to follow Police instructions at scene.

Police Report No. 3

Issued by PPRB

End/ 1645 hours, Friday, December 19, 2003 (NR)

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