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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will extend opening hours and make special arrangements at some of its venues for people to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Details of the special opening arrangements are as follows:
October 2-4
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Sha Tin Park
October 2 and 4: 6.30am to midnight
(extended by one hour)
October 3: 6.30am to 12.30am
(extended by one and a half hour)
North District Park
6am to midnight (extended by one hour)
Tsuen Wan Park
6.30am to midnight (extended by one hour)
Jockey Club Tak Wah Park
6.30am to midnight (extended by one hour)
Tsing Yi Park
5.30am to midnight (extended by half an hour)
October 2 and 3
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Fung Tak Park
6.30am to midnight (extended by one hour)
October 3 (Mid-Autumn Festival)
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Hong Kong Park
- Outdoor facilities
6am to midnight (extended by one hour)
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
- Fountain Terrace Garden
6am to midnight (extended by two hours)
October 4 (The day after Mid-Autumn Festival)
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Victoria Park Central Lawn
Temporarily closed from 2am to 5am for cleaning operation
Shek O Beach
Partially closed from 3am to 5am for cleaning operation
The LCSD urged people to keep the venues clean and tidy and not to burn wax when celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The department will step up patrols at its venues, including parks, public beaches and barbecue sites, from October 2 to 4. On those three nights, around 1,000 staff will be deployed to take enforcement action against people who litter or burn wax.
A spokesman for the LCSD said that littering offenders would be issued with $1,500 fixed-penalty tickets while those who burnt wax would be prosecuted.
"Wax-burning is strictly prohibited. People should not place lit candles on the ground, lawns or beaches. Metal cans or non-flammable containers should be used to collect melted wax for easy disposal into litter bins after the containers cool down," the spokesman said.
"They should wrap and properly dispose of their rubbish into litter bins," he added.
Visitors to LCSD venues should not melt or burn wax, or sprinkle or pour liquids onto hot wax, which might damage their property or cause injury to themselves or other people.
Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and 14 days' imprisonment.
People can report wax burning cases at LCSD venues by calling the hotline, 2414 5555, which will operate from 7pm to midnight between October 2 and 4. LCSD staff will then be deployed to the scene to take appropriate action.
Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:53
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