Public transport arrangements on December 31

The Transport Department reminds passengers, pedestrians and motorists to pay attention to a series of special transport arrangements which will be implemented on December 31, 1999 (Friday) to facilitate holiday celebrations.

More than 150 bus and minibus routes will extend or strengthen service on December 31 and traffic diversion will be required in several areas, especially in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, where the pedestrianisation scheme will be implemented that night.

Both MTR and KCR (Sheung Shui to Hong Hum) will provide round-the-clock service while tram, peak tram and the LRT will extend their services on December 31 till early morning in January 1, 2000.

Ferry service between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and between Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai will be extended to 2 am in January 1, 2000 and ferry service from Central to Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Ping Chau, Yung Shu Wan, Discovery Bay will have additional sailings provided.

For those who intend to cross border by taking Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang Cross-boundary shuttle bus on December 31, they are urged to set out as early as possible to avoid last minute rush.

"While the number of passengers will increase significantly during public holidays, the service period for the shuttle bus (7.30 am to 9.30 pm) will not be extended," said the spokesman of the Transport Department.

The Lok Ma Chau Control Point will be closed between 10 pm on December 31, 1999 and 7 am on January 1, 2000 and Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Control Points will close at 10 pm and 8 pm respectively that night.

To allow sufficient time for immigration clearance before the Lo Wu Control Point in Shenzhen closes at 11.30 pm sharp on December 31 , the Lo Wu train service for cross-boundary passengers will be curtailed on December 31 with the last Lo Wu bound train departing from Hung Hom and Sheung Shui at 10.19 pm and 10.54 pm respectively.

As for local inhabitants and staff working at the Lo Wu Control Point, the last train heading for Lo Wu will leave Hung Hom at 11.54 pm while the last departure from Lo Wu for the Hung Hom bound train will be at 00.20 on January 1, 2000, said the spokesman.

The Transport Department will be monitoring closely on both local and cross-boundary traffic on December 31 till the rollover to the new millennium, and prompt action will be taken whenever necessary, added the spokesman.

Details of the special traffic arrangements on the New Year Eve are available from the Transport Department Homepage's Road Closure page at http://www.info.gov.hk/td.

Thursday, December 30, 1999