National Day Flag Raising and Fireworks Display traffic

     The Transport Department will implement special traffic and transport measures for the Flag Raising Ceremony and National Day fireworks display on Saturday (October 1). Details of the special arrangements are as follows:

1. Flag Raising Ceremony:

     The section of Expo Drive East north of Expo Drive will be closed and traffic on Expo Drive will be intermittently held up from 7am to 1pm tomorrow (September 30).

     Expo Drive, Expo Drive Central and Expo Drive East will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except for authorised vehicles, from 6.30am to 11am on Saturday.

      The bus terminus, taxi stand and coach metered parking spaces on Expo Drive East will be suspended from 7am to 1pm tomorrow and from 12.01am to 11am on Saturday. The bus terminus affected will be relocated.

2. National Day fireworks display:

     On Hong Kong Island, temporary road closures will be implemented starting at 7.30pm in The Peak, Central, Wan Chai North and Wan Chai South. The roads will be reopened when Police determine that conditions are safe.

     In Kowloon, some sections of road in Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan will be closed or subject to traffic diversions in five phases starting at 6pm.

Public Transport Arrangements:

A. Mass Transit Railway Services:

     Train service will be strengthened between 7pm and 11.30pm as follow:

- Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line and Tseung Kwan O Line headway 3 minutes

- Tung Chung Line between Hong Kong and Tsing Yi headway 5 minutes

B. Kowloon-Canton Railway Services:

     Train service will be strengthened as follows:

- Between East Tsim Sha Tsui Station headway and Sheung Shui Station from 9.30pm to 11pm headway 3.3 minutes

- Ma On Shan Rail from 6pm to 11pm headway 4 minutes

C. West Rail, Light Rail Train and Feeder Bus Services:

    Normal public holiday services will be operated.  Service frequency will be strengthened to meet passenger demand if necessary.

D. Hong Kong Tramways Services:

    Normal public holiday services will be operated and service frequency will be strengthened to meet passenger demand if necessary.

E. Peak Tram Services:

     Service frequency will be strengthened to 7-minute headway to meet passenger demand.

F. Central-mid-Level Escalator:

     The service of Central to Mid-levels Escalator and Walkway System on Saturday will be extended to 2am on Sunday (October 2).

G. Cross-boundary Coach Services:

     The terminating point of the Cross Boundary Coach Service between Wan Chai and Huanggang at the Wan Chai Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. During the above period, the terminating point will be temporarily relocated to Hennessy Road eastbound under the O'Brien Road footbridge.

H. Bus Services:

     Suspension and relocation of bus terminuses/stops, suspension of bus service, special bus service, extension of operating hours, route diversion and enhancement of service will be implemented by bus companies. Suspension and relocation of stands and route diversion will be implemented by public light bus (scheduled) companies

I. Public Light Bus (Scheduled) Services:

     Some green minibus stands will be suspended or relocated. Route diversion will also implement.

J. Ferry Services:

     Ferry companies will suspend some ferry services, cancel some sailings or strengthen and alter some sailings.

     Details of the above special traffic and transport arrangements are available on the Transport Department's website http://www.td.gov.hk/traffic_notices/index.htm.

     The Transport Department also reminds passengers who intend to cross the boundary during the Golden Week (October 1 to 7) to plan their journeys if they have 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. They are also advised 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 journeys during the less busy periods in late morning or early afternoon.  The waiting time for the cross-boundary bus services could be longer, and waiting time will be more than one hour in some cases if traffic at the Lok Ma Chau crossing is busy. Passengers should observe order and listen to the advice from the onsite staff.

     Passengers are advised to pay attention to radio/TV broadcast on traffic conditions or telephone the yellow bus service hotline at 2471 0792.

Ends/Thursday, September 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:51