Motorists should abide by traffic laws not to stay within yellow box marking at intersections

The Transport Department (TD) said today (November 11) that the busy traffic in Hong Kong has become more congested when being affected by the occupy movement. Under such circumstances, motorists are reminded that they must abide by the traffic regulations to prevent the traffic from becoming more chaotic.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) has been closely monitoring the traffic situation and some motorists, for the sake of convenience, were found to have violated traffic regulations such as stopping illegally on yellow box marking at intersections, causing obstruction to vehicles on road sections in the vicinity and affecting the overall traffic flow. Such illegal behaviours are often found at a number of intersections in Wan Chai, including the junctions between Fenwick Street and Lockhart Road; Lockhart Road and Fleming Road; Fleming Road and Hennessy Road; as well as Harbour Road and Fleming Road, resulting in serious traffic congestion in Wan Chai North.

With a view to preventing motorists from making unauthorised U-turns towards Central on Harbour Road (Causeway Bay-bound) outside Shui On Centre in Wan Chai, the Police have placed water barriers and “No U-turn” warning signs at the scene. The TD reminds motorists not to act in breach of the law because it will affect other vehicles travelling along the road and pedestrians walking across the road at pedestrian crossings.

As for the traffic situation, since a number of roads affected by protests on Hong Kong Island are still closed and there has been a growing amount of traffic flow, traffic was busy and congested at the Island Eastern Corridor, Gloucester Road westbound towards Central, Lung Wo Road and in the vicinity of the Aberdeen Tunnel during peak hours today. The TD and the Police will continue to implement temporary traffic control measures when necessary to divert traffic. Motorists should pay attention to the temporary arrangements and follow the instructions of the Police at the scene. The TD urged motorists to avoid driving as far as possible and give the public transport services priority over road use.

As special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented for the horse racing meeting in Happy Valley tomorrow night, it is anticipated that traffic will be very busy with increased traffic load on Hong Kong Island during peak hours in the evening and that serious traffic congestion is very likely to occur. Members of the public are advised to use public transport as far as possible and avoid driving to Hong Kong Island.

Regarding public transport services, a total of 223 bus routes were still affected today, with eight bus routes suspended and 215 bus routes diverted. Among the affected bus routes, 80 routes travelling via Mong Kok are diverted due to the closure of a number of road sections in Mong Kok.

Due to traffic congestion in the vicinity of Causeway Bay, starting from the first departure tomorrow, amendments will be made on the following routes:

- the NWFB Route No.38, 42, 42C and CTB Route No.76, 77 will omit Leighton Road, and be diverted via Canal Road West, flyover and Victoria Park Road;
- the CTB Route No. 5B will be diverted via Percival Street, Leighton Road, Hysan Avenue, Hoi Ping Road, Caroline Hill Road, Eastern Hospital Road, Tung Lo Wan Road, Irving Street, Pennington Street, Yee Wo Street and then resumed its original routing to Western District;
- the KMB Route No. 603P will be departed from Central Ferry Pier and then diverted via Man Yiu Street, Man Cheong Street, Connaught Road Central, Rumsey Street, Des Voeux Road Central, Queensway, Hennessy Road, Fleming Road, Convention Avenue, Hung Hing Road, Victoria Park Road and then resumed its original routing to Island Eastern Corridor.

A total of 20 green minibus routes travelling via Harcourt Road, Nathan Road and Argyle Street are still diverted or suspended or with service adjusted. Currently, the tram service between Percival Street and Paterson Street is still suspended. The MTR Corporation Limited continues to increase services for all urban lines to cope with passenger demand.

The TD's ETCC will continue to monitor the road traffic situation and public transport services. For details of road closure, traffic diversion, suspension and route diversion of green minibus services, please refer to the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk). Regarding temporary traffic arrangements for bus routes, please refer to the following bus companies' websites for details:

For routes of Citybus and New World First Bus: www.nwstbus.com.hk/en/uploadedFiles/OC2014/TAA.htm .

For routes of Kowloon Motor Bus: www.kmb.hk/en .

As there will be updates on bus services from time to time due to traffic changes, members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest service arrangements announced by bus companies before starting their journeys.

Ends/Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:22

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