National Day Flag Raising Ceremony and Fireworks Display traffic arrangements

The Transport Department will implement special traffic and transport measures for the Flag Raising Ceremony and the National Day Fireworks Display to be held on Sunday (October 1). Details of the special arrangements are as follows:

1. Flag Raising Ceremony:

     The section of Expo Drive East north of Expo Drive will be closed and traffic on Expo Drive will be intermittently held up from 7am to 1pm tomorrow (September 30).

     Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central and Expo Drive East will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except for authorised vehicles, from 6.30am to 11am on Sunday.

      The bus terminus, taxi stand and coach metered parking spaces on Expo Drive East will be suspended from 7am to 1pm tomorrow and from 12.01am to 11am on Sunday. The bus terminus affected will be relocated.

2. National Day Fireworks Display

     On Hong Kong Island, temporary road closures will be implemented in phases starting from 7.45pm on Sunday in the Peak, Central, Wan Chai North and Wan Chai South. The roads will be reopened when Police determine that conditions are safe.

     In Kowloon, some sections of road in Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan will be closed or subject to traffic diversions in five phases starting at 6.15pm on Sunday.

Public Transport Arrangements:

A. Mass Transit Railway Services:

     Train service will be strengthened between 7pm and 11.30pm as follows:

- Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line and Tseung Kwan O Line headway 3 minutes

- Tung Chung Line between Hong Kong and Tsing Yi headway 5 minutes

B. Kowloon-Canton Railway Services:

     Train service will be strengthened as follows:

- From East Tsim Sha Tsui Station from 9.45pm to 11.15pm headway 3.3 minutes

- Ma On Shan Rail from 6pm to 11pm headway 4 minutes

C. West Rail, Light Rail Train and Feeder Bus Services:

    Normal Sunday and Public Holiday services will be in operation. Service frequency will be strengthened to meet passenger demand if necessary.

D. Hong Kong Tramways Services:

    Normal Sunday services will be in operation and service frequency will be strengthened to meet passenger demand if necessary.

E. Peak Tram Services:

     Service frequency will be strengthened to 7-minute headway to meet passenger demand.

F. Central-mid-Level Escalator:

     The service of Central to Mid-levels Escalator and Walkway System on October 1 will be extended to 2am on October 2.

G. Cross-boundary Coach Services:

     The terminating point of the Cross Boundary Coach Service between Wan Chai and Huanggang at the Wan Chai Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 7.45pm to 10.45pm. During the above period, the terminating point will be temporarily relocated to Hennessy Road eastbound under the O'Brien Road footbridge.

H. Bus Services:

     Suspension and relocation of bus terminuses/stops, route diversion and enhancement of service will be implemented by bus companies.

I. Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Services:

     Some green minibus stands will be suspended or relocated. Route diversion will also implement.

J. Ferry Services:

     Ferry companies will suspend some ferry services, cancel some sailings or strengthen and alter some sailings.

Members of the public who plan to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport. In cases of traffic obstruction, motorists are urged to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of the Police in the affected areas. The public should listen to the radio broadcasts for the latest traffic news.

Details of the temporary traffic and transport arrangements are available on the Department's homepage (http://www.td.gov.hk).

Ends/Friday, September 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:22