Smooth Traffic on First School Day

Traffic condition in the morning of the first school day (September 2) was observed to be smooth in general. Public transport services were generally adequate to meet the demand.

The Transport Department (TD) activated the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC) from 6.30 am today (September 2) to monitor closely the traffic situation and public transport services. The Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Mrs Dorothy Chan, visited Tseung Kwan O this morning to observe the public transport services including MTR and bus services, and road condition in the area.

There were close liaison between TD and major public transport operators as well as relevant government departments. About 70 TD staff were deployed to man the Centre or to monitor the traffic and transport situation on site at various public transport interchanges and school areas. They provided updated information to the Centre for arranging public transport service enhancement if necessary.

A TD spokesman said: "As in previous years, students were reminded to get familiar with the public transport routes to be taken and the traffic routeing to school and allow more time for travel on the first school day, especially if they are attending a new school this term, living in the outlying islands or attending schools in the outlying islands."

TD reminds the students again that it may take a while for them to get familiar with the public transport in the new school term, thus they should well plan their journeys to avoid last minute rush.

End/Monday, September 2, 2002