Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements this Sunday (June 9) to facilitate a public event to be held on Hong Kong Island.

Crowd safety management measures
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     The public event consists of three parts, namely a public meeting at Central Lawn of the park, a public procession heading to Central followed by a public meeting in Central.

     The public meeting at Central Lawn of the park will commence at 2.30pm and the subsequent public procession will start at 3pm. The public procession will set off to the western and eastern pavements of Legislative Council Road and western pavement of Tim Mei Avenue, venue of another public meeting, via South Boulevard, Basketball Court and Gate 15 of the park, Causeway Road, Leighton Road, Irving Street, Pennington Street, Yee Wo Street, Hennessy Road, Queensway, Rodney Street and Harcourt Road.

A. Arrangements for Public Meeting at Victoria Park

     To ensure that the participants of the public meeting enter the Central Lawn and set off the subsequent procession sequentially, the organiser will divide the Central Lawn into four sections and their marshals will implement crowd management measure thereat.

     Members of the public participating in the public meeting are encouraged to use public transport to go to the park and enter the Central Lawn from the west via Gate 6 and 7 (near Sugar Street and Great George Street); or from the east via Gate 14 (Hing Fat Street near Lau Sin Street) (see diagram 1).

     The procession will set off at 3pm or when the participants have occupied about 85 per cent of the Central Lawn, whichever is earlier. The procession will depart from the Central Lawn via Exits 1 and 2, and move along the South Boulevard and Gate 15 of the park to start. After the public procession starts, participants who wish to join can still enter the Central Lawn through the above route (see diagram 2).

     Gate 14 on Hing Fat Street is one of the main accesses to the park, Police will implement crowd safety management measures during the public meeting or procession. When the procession is passing the Basketball Courts near Gate 14, participants should follow Police’s instruction and may have to give way to other members of the public when such need arises.

B. Arrangements for Public Procession

     The procession will proceed along the westbound carriageway of the procession route and the eastbound and westbound tram lanes along Yee Wo Street, Hennessy Road and Queensway. The eastbound carriageway will be reserved as emergency vehicles access and used by other road users.

     The crossing zones outside SOGO Department Store and Paterson Street will be suspended during the procession. Past experience has shown that many procession participants jammed in the procession at these two points, causing obstructions and delay to the main procession from the park. Moreover, it will also affect the traffic at the eastbound carriageway and its function as emergency vehicles access, posing serioud risks to public safety and public order. Procession participants are requested not to jam in at these two points. People who intend to cross Yee Wo Street can use the subway of MTR, Sugar Street footbridge and Percival Street footbridge.

     Participants who wish to leave upon arriving or during the public meeting in Central may leave via various directions towards Admiralty or Wan Chai. They should pay attention to the announcements made by the organiser and follow the instructions given by the Police or event marshals for a safe departure.

     To maintain public safety and public order, Police imposed several conditions to the organiser. The conditions include requesting the organiser to appeal to the participants taking part in fund-raising, hawking or any other propaganda activities to ensure that their stalls or temporarily-erected structures would not cause obstructions to the public procession or endanger the safety of the public procession participants or other road users.

     Members of the public going to Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Tin Hau are encouraged to use public transport. They should follow the instructions given by Police officers or event marshals, and pay attention to the temporary signage displayed on site.

     It is the policy of the Police to facilitate all lawful public order events and it will take measures to ensure public safety and public order. Police wish to co-operate closely with the organiser to facilitate a safe and orderly public event.

     Police appeal to the event participants to remain calm, be considerate and co-operative, as well as to express their views in a peaceful manner.

Special traffic arrangements
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A. Road closure

     The following roads will be closed from 1.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Gloucester Road U-turn slip road between southbound and northbound Gloucester Road underneath Tai Hang Road flyover;
2. Sugar Street;
3. If necessary, Great George Street;
4. If necessary, Paterson Street between Gloucester Road and Great George Street;
5. If necessary, Kingston Street;
6. If necessary, Cleveland Street; and
7. If necessary, southbound Gloucester Road between Victoria Park Road flyover and Causeway Road.

     The following roads will be closed from 2.15pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Jardine's Bazaar;
2. Tang Lung Street;
3. Canal Road East between Russell Street and Hennessy Road;
4. Canal Road West between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
5. Wan Chai Road between Canal Road West and Morrison Hill Road; and
6. Bowrington Road between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road.

     The following roads will be closed from 2.45pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Westbound Causeway Road;
2. Moreton Terrace;
3. Shelter Street;
4. The slip road leading from eastbound Yee Wo Street to westbound Causeway Road;
5. Irving Street;
6. Pennington Street between Keswick Street and Yee Wo Street;
7. Westbound Yee Wo Street;
8. Westbound Hennessy Road;
9. Lee Garden Road between Kai Chiu Road and Hennessy Road;
10. Kai Chiu Road;
11. Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road;
12. Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Russell Street;
13. Tin Lok Lane between Hennessy Road and Wan Chai Road;
14. Eastbound Johnston Road slip road leading to westbound Hennessy Road;
15. Thomson Road between Johnston Road and Luard Road;
16. Luard Road between Johnston Road and Hennessy Road;
17. Fenwick Street between Hennessy Road and Johnston Road;
18. Westbound Johnston Road between Ship Street and Landale Street;
19. Eastbound Johnston Road between Fenwick Street and Hennessy Road; and
20. If necessary, westbound Leighton Road slip road leading to Pennington Street.

     The following roads will be closed from 4pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Eastbound Queensway between Queen’s Road East and Rodney Street;
2. Westbound Harcourt Road between Harcourt Garden car park exit and Cotton Tree Drive;
3. Southbound Tim Wa Avenue between Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road, except for vehicles heading for the Chief Executive’s Office and Central Government Offices (CGO) car park;
4. Southbound Edinburgh Place between Lung Wo Road and Connaught Road Central;
5. Southbound Rodney Street;
6. Westbound Harcourt Road service road U-turn slip road;
7. If necessary, eastbound Queensway;
8. If necessary, northbound Rodney Street;
9. If necessary, Drake Street;
10. If necessary, Tamar Street;
11. If necessary, southbound Cotton Tree Drive slip road leading to eastbound Queensway;
12. If necessary, southbound Cotton Tree Drive between westbound Harcourt Road and Queensway;
13. If necessary, northbound Garden Road flyover leading to eastbound Queensway;
14. If necessary, northbound Garden Road slip road leading to northbound Cotton Tree Drive;
15. If necessary, Murray Road between Harcourt Road and Queensway;
16. If necessary, eastbound Des Voeux Road Central between Pedder Street and Queensway;
17. If necessary, northbound Ice House Street between Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central; and
18. If necessary, eastbound Harcourt Road between Tim Wa Avenue and Edinburgh Place.

     The following roads will be closed when necessary until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Yacht Street;
2. Lau Li Street between Ngan Mok Street and Hing Fat Street;
3. Electric Road between Lau Sin Street and Tsing Fung Street;
4. Lau Sin Street west of King’s Road;
5. Hing Fat Street between Causeway Road and Lau Sin Street;
6. Northbound Tai Hang Road flyover; and
7. Southbound Percival Street between Gloucester Road and Lockhart Road.

B. Traffic diversions

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 1.30pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Traffic along southbound Gloucester Road cannot turn right to northbound Gloucester Road underneath Tai Hang Road flyover;
2. Traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot turn left to Sugar Street;
3. If necessary, traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to westbound Kingston Street;
4. If necessary, traffic along southbound Paterson Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street;
5. If necessary, traffic along southbound Cleveland Street cannot turn right to westbound Kingston Street;
6. If necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Cleveland Street and southbound Paterson Street;
7. If necessary, traffic along westbound Victoria Park Road slip road cannot enter Cleveland Street; and
8. If necessary, traffic along southbound Victoria Park Road flyover must turn right to westbound Gloucester Road service road.

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 2.15pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Traffic along Pennington Street cannot turn left to Jardine's Bazaar;
2. Traffic along westbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
3. Traffic along westbound Russell Street must turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
4. Traffic along northbound Canal Road West near Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
5. Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
6. Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West cannot turn left to northbound Bowrington Road;
7. Traffic along northbound Bowrington Road must turn right to eastbound Sharp Street West; and
8. Traffic along eastbound Wan Chai Road must turn right to southbound Morrison Hill Road.

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 2.45pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Traffic from westbound King's Road must turn left to southbound Tung Lo Wan Road or turn right to northbound Hing Fat Street;
2. Traffic along westbound Tung Lo Wan Road cannot enter Moreton Terrace;
3. Eastbound Tung Lo Wan Road between St. Paul’s Hospital and Moreton Terrace will be re-routed to westbound traffic;
4. Traffic along southbound Tung Lo Wan Road cannot turn left to the re-routed westbound Tung Lo Wan Road between St Paul’s Hospital and Moreton Terrace;
5. Traffic along eastbound Yee Wo Street cannot turn right to southbound Tung Lo Wan Road or westbound Leighton Road;
6. Traffic along northbound Tung Lo Wan Road cannot enter Irving Street and must turn left to westbound Leighton Road;
7. Traffic along Pennington Street must turn right to Keswick Street;
8. Traffic along northbound Yun Ping Road must turn left to westbound Lan Fong Road;
9. Traffic along westbound Leighton Road must turn left to Wong Nai Chung Road, except for franchised buses;
10. Traffic along southbound Percival Street will be diverted to Lockhart Road or eastbound Hennessy Road;
11. Traffic along northbound Tin Lok Lane must turn left to westbound Wan Chai Road;
12. Traffic along northbound Tin Lok Lane cannot turn left to westbound Hennessy Road;
13. Traffic along Stewart Road cannot turn right to westbound Hennessy Road;
14. Traffic along eastbound Johnston Road cannot turn left to westbound Hennessy Road;
15. Traffic along Fleming Road cannot enter westbound Hennessy Road;
16. Traffic along southbound Fenwick Street must turn left to eastbound Hennessy Road;
17. Traffic along eastbound Hennessy Road cannot turn right to southbound Fenwick Street;
18. Traffic along Tai Wong Street East must turn right to eastbound Johnston Road;
19. Traffic along Johnston Road cannot enter Thomson Road;
20. Traffic along Johnston Road cannot enter northbound Luard Road;
21. Traffic along westbound Johnston Road must turn left to Ship Street;
22. Traffic along Lun Fat Street must turn right to eastbound Johnston Road;
23. Traffic along westbound Johnston Road from Landale Street must turn left to Anton Street; and
24. If necessary, traffic along westbound Leighton Road cannot turn right to northbound Pennington Street.

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented from 4pm until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Traffic along northbound Justice Drive must turn left to westbound Queensway;
2. Traffic along westbound Harcourt Road near Harcourt Garden car park exit will be diverted to westbound Harcourt Road flyover;
3. Traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue, except for vehicles heading for the Chief Executive’s Office and CGO car park;
4. Traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot enter southbound Edinburgh Place;
5. If necessary, traffic along eastbound Queensway cannot turn left to northbound Tamar Street;
6. If necessary, traffic along eastbound Des Voeux Road Central must turn left to northbound Pedder Street;
7. If necessary, traffic along westbound Queen’s Road Central cannot turn right to northbound Ice House Street;
8. If necessary, traffic along northbound Ice House Street must turn left to westbound Queen’s Road Central;
9. If necessary, traffic from United Centre bus terminus must turn left to westbound Drake Street;
10. If necessary, traffic along westbound Harcourt Road cannot turn left to southbound Murray Road;
11. If necessary, traffic along eastbound Connaught Road Central will be intermittently prohibited from entering the ground level of eastbound Harcourt Road, and must go straight to eastbound Harcourt Road flyover;
12. If necessary, traffic along Garden Road flyover cannot enter eastbound Queensway; and
13. If necessary, traffic along southbound Cotton Tree Drive will be diverted to southbound Cotton Tree Drive flyover.

     The following traffic diversions will be implemented when necessary until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

1. Traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover must go straight to northbound Victoria Park Road flyover leading to westbound Gloucester Road;
2. Traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Percival Street;
3. Traffic along eastbound Causeway Road cannot turn left to northbound Hing Fat Street; and
4. Traffic along westbound King's Road cannot turn right to northbound Hing Fat Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

     All parking spaces at Hing Fat Street public car park will be suspended from about 10.30am to 8pm.

     Disabled parking spaces at northbound Gloucester Road near Sugar Street, and all on-street parking spaces on Tung Lo Wan Road will be suspended from 10.30am to 8pm.

      All on-street parking spaces, motorcycle parking spaces and disabled parking spaces at eastbound Lung Wui Road opposite to CITIC Tower will be suspended from 12 noon to 11.59pm.

     During road closure period, vehicles will not be allowed to enter or leave car parks on the closed roads.

     Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior notice, and subject to multiple ticketing.

     Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

Ends/Thursday, June 6, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:34

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