Special traffic and transport arrangements for New Year's Eve

     The Transport Department today (December 29) reminded people of the special traffic and transport arrangements on Hong Kong Island on New Year's Eve (Wednesday).

     A department spokesman said that in addition to the 43rd Hong Kong Product Expo at Victoria Park, celebration activities for new year countdown would also be held at Times Square, Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, Lan Kwai Fong, Two International Finance Centre (IFC2) and the area fronting Central Piers 7 and 8 on December 31. To facilitate crowd management by the police, special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Causeway Bay and Central from the afternoon in phases.

     For Times Square, starting from 5pm, Russell Street between Percival Street and Canal Road East; and Matheson Street between Sharp Street East and Russell Street will be closed. From 6pm onwards, Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Leighton Road, Lee Garden Road, Pak Sha Road, Kai Chiu Road, Yun Ping Road, Jardine's Bazaar and other roads in the vicinity of Times Square, such as Yiu Wah Street and Tang Lung Street, will also be closed.

     For Paterson Street shopping area, Sugar Street, Great George Street, Paterson Street and Kingston Street will be closed from 6pm for crowd management for the Product Expo. Further road closures of Percival Street between Hennessy Road and Gloucester Road; Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road (both between Canal Road East and Cannon Street) in the vicinity of Sogo Department Store and Cannon Street will also be closed from 8pm.

     For Jardine Midnight Gun Ceremony at Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, the unnamed access road at Victoria Park Road leading to Causeway Bay Promenade will be closed from 9pm.

     For Lan Kwai Fong, the section of Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street will be closed from 5pm. The whole section of D'Aguilar Street will also be closed when it is full. The section of Wyndham Street from Glenealy to Queen's Road Central will be subsequently closed for crowd dispersal.

     For Central Pier areas, the loading and unloading area fronting Central Piers 7 and 8 will be closed from noon for holding of celebration activities. Traffic at Man Kwong Street, Man Po Street, Man Cheung Street and Man Yiu Street will be held up during new year countdown at IFC2.

     The spokesman said that as various celebration activities would be held in Causeway Bay at the same time, traffic on Gloucester Road heading for Times Square, Hennessy Road, Yee Wo Street, Lockhart Road and Leighton Road would be more congested. Public transport services operating at affected areas will be temporarily diverted. Tram service to and from Happy Valley will be temporarily suspended from 6pm when Percival Street is closed.

     The spokesman appealed to people who planned to go to the abovementioned areas to use public transport. Motorists are advised to follow the traffic signs and avoid driving into the affected areas. They are also advised to exercise tolerance and patience, observe Police instructions; and listen for the latest radio traffic news.

     Details of the special temporary traffic and transport arrangements are available on the department's Homepage (www.td.gov.hk). For further queries, please call 1823.

Ends/Monday, December 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:41