Mid-Autumn Festival special traffic/transport arrangements

     The Transport Department will implement special traffic and transport measures from tomorrow to Monday (September 17 to 19) because of Mid-Autumn Festival activities. There will also be special arrangements for public transport services.

     The arrangements include a part-time pedestrian scheme, road closures, suspension of car parks, parking spaces, taxi stands, public light bus stands and special prohibited zones all over Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in areas such as The Peak, Repulse Bay, Shek O and Stanley. The police will also close roads and divert traffic depending on conditions.

    Public transport services arrangements are:

* MTR Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tseung Kwan O Line and Tung Chung Line will run overnight from Sunday to Monday.

* KCRC East Rail's last northbound and southbound trains departing from Tsim Sha Tsui Station and Sheung Shui Station respectively on Sunday will be extended to 2am Monday.

* KCRC West Rail's last northbound and southbound trains departing from Nam Cheong Station and Tuen Mun Station respectively on Sunday will be extended to 2am Monday.

* The last departures for some LRT routes on Sunday will be extended to 2.30am Monday.

* The Peak tram service on Sunday will be extended to 3am the following day. The frequency of services will be adjusted subject to passenger demand.

* The tram service on Sunday will be extended to 2.49am Monday. The frequency of services will be increased subject to passenger demand tomorrow and Monday.

* Special extensions of operating hours, suspension/relocation of bus terminuses, route diversions and special routes will be made by bus companies.

* Some green minibus (GMB) services will be extended and some routes will be diverted. A special service of GMB route no. 77M from Austin Road West to Peking Road (Circular) will be operated from 7pm to midnight tomorrow and Sunday.

* Ferry services will be enhanced according to passenger demand.

     The Transport Department reminds passengers who intend to use the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle-bus service or the six Hong Kong-Huanggang cross-boundary coach routes with fixed schedules and stopping points during Mid-Autumn Festival Holidays to plan their journeys and to travel by rail via Lo Wu Control Point as far as possible. Many passengers are expected to travel via the Lok Ma Chau Control Point during the holidays. Passengers are advised to make their journey during the less busy periods in late morning or early afternoon. As the waiting time for the cross-boundary bus services could be longer if traffic at the Lok Ma Chau crossing is busy, intending passengers should observe order and advice from the on-site staff.  Passengers are advised to pay attention to radio/TV broadcasts on traffic conditions.

     Motorists are also reminded not to drive to congested areas and to use public transport services as far as possible.

     Details of the special traffic and transport arrangements are available on the Transport Department's website, http://www.td.gov.hk/traffic_notices/index.htm. Enquiries can also be made by calling 1823 or 28042600.

Ends/Friday, September 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:35