Traffic smooth on first school day

Traffic conditions were mostly smooth and public transport services generally adequate to meet the morning demand on the first school day today (September 3), the Transport Department said.

     The department's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) closely monitored the traffic situation and public transport services from 6.30am today. Staff members were deployed to monitor the traffic and transport situation on site at various public transport interchanges and school areas. They provided update information to the centre for arranging public transport service enhancement when necessary.

     "As in previous years, students are reminded to familiarise themselves with the public transport routes to be taken and the traffic routing to school during the first few days of the new school term so the most suitable route and traffic pattern can be determined," a department spokesman said.

     The department will continue to closely monitor the traffic situations and public transport services in the next few days when more schools begin the new school term. Close liaison between with major public transport operators and relevant government departments will also be maintained.

     The spokesman also reminded students to allow more time for travel. Those living on the outlying islands or attending schools on the outlying islands were advised to check in advance the ferry schedules and the vessel types to be used on their intended ferry trips. In view of the possible congestion in school areas, motorists should avoid these areas as far as possible.

     Motorists are advised to allow more time for their trips in particular cross-harbour trips during the morning peak hours as the cross-harbour tunnel traffic was likely to become busier compared with the situation last month (August).

     People should pay attention to TV and radio announcements for the latest transport and traffic news before leaving home. For enquiries, please call the department's hotline 2804 2600 or government hotline 1823.

     For enquiries on bus and ferry schedules, people can call the following hotlines or visit the websites of the major public transport operators:

Operator                  Hotline                    Website
--------                        -------                        -------

New World              2136 8888           www.nwfb.com.hk/
First Bus  

CityBus                  2873 0818            www.citybus.com.hk/

Kowloon Motor        2745 4466            www.kmb.com.hk/
Bus/Long Win
Bus

New Lantao Bus       2984 9848           www.newlantaobus.com/

New World               2131 8181           www.nwff.com.hk/
First Ferry

Hong Kong              2815 6063            www.hkkf.com.hk/
and Kowloon
Ferry

Ends/Monday, September 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:04