Penny's Bay Mid-Autumn festival special traffic arrangements (with photo)
The Transport Department, Police and Hongkong International Theme Park Limited (HKITP) held a briefing today (September 16) to announce details of special traffic and transport arrangements as well as crowd management measures for Penny's Bay during the Mid-Autumn festival holidays.
The Transport Department's Principal Transport Officer, Mr Lo Yat Cheung, said: "The department will activate the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre during the festival holidays to monitor public transport services and the traffic situation on major roads in connection with the opening of the Disneyland theme park. Emergency measures will be implemented and a special announcement will be made to the public if needed. A command centre jointly managed by the Police, Tourism Commission, Transport Department, MTR Corporation and representatives from Disneyland will monitor crowd flow and traffic, as well as handle emergency incidents if any."
Mr Lo said he expected a lot of people would visit the theme park during the festival holidays and public transport would be relatively crowded. He urged passengers to take public transport as far as possible when going to the theme park and places at Penny's Bay. He also urged them to be patient and follow the instructions from on-site staff of the theme park, MTR and bus companies. He said drivers should pay attention to the most updated traffic information announced by radio/TV stations and the Tsing Ma Control Area's Variable Message Sign.
Special traffic and transport arrangements are as follows:
Saturday:
* Public facilities for Inspiration Lake and the theme park will maintain normal opening hours. MTR Disneyland Resort Line will run according to its normal timetable, meaning that the last train will depart from Disneyland Resort Station at 12.40am on Sunday;
* Franchised bus route no. R8 will provide overnight services. The five bus routes for the theme park from North Point, Hung Hom, Yau Tong, Tai Wai and Tuen Mun (nos. R11, R21, R22, R33 and R42) will extend service hours until midnight;
* The short-haul cross-boundary bus service between the theme park and Huanggang Control Point will extend service hours until midnight. In view of the closing time of Lo Wu Control Point, KCRC's "Railway – Bus" service between Sheung Shui and Disneyland for train passengers from Lo Wu will maintain its normal service, with the last departure from the theme park at 10.15pm. Railway passengers heading for the Mainland via Lo Wu should pay attention to the last departure time of the KCRC special service and board the train early.
Sunday:
* Public facilities for Inspiration Lake and the theme park will maintain normal opening hours;
* MTR Disneyland Resort Line will provide overnight service. The five bus routes for the theme park from North Point, Hung Hom, Yau Tong, Tai Wai and Tuen Mun (nos. R11, R21, R22, R33 and R42) will extend service hours until midnight. Franchised bus route no. R8 will run according to its usual timetable;
* The short-haul cross-boundary bus service between the theme park and Huanggang Control Point will extend service hours until midnight. In view of the closing time of Lo Wu Control Point, KCRC's "Railway – Bus" service between Sheung Shui and Disneyland for train passengers from Lo Wu will maintain its normal service, with the last departure from the theme park at 10.15pm.
Acting Superintendent of Police Enforcement and Control Division, Traffic New Territories South, Mr Chung Ling Wing, said that if there was crowd congestion at Park Promenade or when all car parks were full, the Police would implement special traffic management measures near the roundabout at Penny's Bay Highway, meaning that only authorised or public service vehicles would allowed to enter the theme park via Magic Road and other cars should leave the theme park via Penny's Bay Highway.
He added that the Police would close North Lantau Highway's entrance to Hong Kong Disneyland if there was serious traffic congestion on roads to the theme park.
There are restrictions for picking up/dropping off for all vehicles on all roads in the Hong Kong Disneyland premises and the Police will take prosecution action against all illegal activities. Illegally parked vehicles will be immediately towed away without prior warning.
Those attending today's briefing included Divisional Commander (Lantau North) of the Police, Mr Fong Chiu Shun, and Manager (Duty Manager Operations) of Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited, Mr Alan Kwok.
Ends/Friday, September 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:01