Special traffic and transport arrangements in So Kon Po and Hong Kong Island on May 31

     The Transport Department (TD) today (May 28) reminded the public that to facilitate the holding of a religious event at Hong Kong Stadium and a public procession on Hong Kong Island on Sunday (May 31), special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in So Kon Po and on Hong Kong Island:

I. Religious event at Hong Kong Stadium

     From about 1pm, Caroline Hill Road and Eastern Hospital Road will be re-routed to one-way southbound and one-way northbound respectively for the arrival of spectators and vehicles. From about 5.50pm, Caroline Hill Road, Eastern Hospital Road, Cotton Path and Link Road northbound will be closed until crowds have dispersed. During the period of road closures, bus routes and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the vicinity of Hong Kong Stadium, and some of the bus routes operating along Leighton Road, will be temporarily diverted. Cross harbour bus route 117R will operate from Hong Kong Stadium to Mongkok after the event.

II. Public Procession in Causeway Bay

     The public procession will be held from about 3.15pm from Victoria Park to Central Government Offices. It will take the route via Sugar Street, Yee Wo Street westbound, Hennessy Road westbound, Queensway westbound, Queen's Road Central and Battery Path.

     To facilitate the procession, from about 3pm onwards, Gloucester Road southbound between Causeway Bay flyover and Causeway Road, Gloucester Road northbound south of Sugar Street, Sugar Street, Yee Wo Street westbound between Pennington Street and Hennessy Road, Jardine's Bazaar, Hennessy Road westbound between Yee Wo Street and Lee Garden Road, Yun Ping Road between Kai Chiu Road and Pak Sha Road, Kai Chiu Road, Lee Garden Road between Kai Chiu Road and Hennessy Road, Tang Lung Street and Canal Road East between Hennessy Road and Russell Street will be temporarily closed.  In addition, the slow lane of Hennessy Road westbound west of Lee Garden Road, the slow lane of Queensway westbound and the slow lane of Queen's Road Central westbound east of Ice House Street will be intermittently closed in phases.

     During the period of road closures, 44 bus routes and one GMB route operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted. The concerned public transport operators will arrange publicity to inform passengers of the temporary arrangements.

     In addition, the red minibus stand at Sugar Street, the GMB stand at Tang Lung Street; and on-street car parking spaces and car parks within the affected areas will be temporarily suspended.

     The TD anticipates that the traffic in the vicinity of Hong Kong Stadium, the Wan Chai exit of Aberdeen Tunnel, and that from Causeway Bay to Central will be heavily congested in the afternoon. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected areas. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise tolerance and patience, and follow the instructions of the Police. Members of the public planning to go to the affected area are advised to make use of public transport.

     The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and will implement appropriate measures whenever necessary. Motorists and the public are advised to listen to the latest traffic news on radio and television.

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are now available on the TD website (www.td.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, May 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:00