TD and Police introduced WTO HKMC transport arrangements
The Transport Department (TD) and the Police held a press conference today (December 6) to introduce special transport and traffic arrangements during the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference (HKMC) of the World Trade Organization.
Deputy Commissioner for Transport, Ms Carolina Yip; Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Anthony Loo; TD’s Principle Transport Officer, Mr Albert Su and representatives of the Police were present to explain details of the arrangements.
Ms Carolina Yip said: "A closed area will be set up between December 12 and 19 in view of the HKMC; public procession will also be held on December 11, 13 and 19. During the period, TD and the Police will implement special transport and traffic arrangements in relevant districts."
She hoped the public would understand that traffic on Hong Kong Island might be more congested during the HKMC and urged people to plan the journey well in advance, use public transports as far as possible and try to avoid driving to the relevant districts, especially roads in Island north.
During the HKMC, TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre Joint Steering Mode will work with the Police and public transport organisations to closely monitor the traffic situations and handle incidents of transport, and co-ordinate the announcement of information on traffic and public transport services .
The department has produced a leaflet, with detailed information of various special traffic and transport arrangements, which will be issued to the public through the department's Licensing Offices, public transport organisations, tunnel companies and Home Affairs Department.
TD has also set up a special hotline: 1834567, available between now and December 19, for enquiries on the most updated information on special traffic and transport arrangements during the HKMC period. People can also make use of the hotline to obtain the information by fax or contact hotline servicing staff. The information will also be uploaded onto the department website www.td.gov.hk for easy reference. During the period, TD's general hotline: 28042600 will continue to provide service for general enquiries as usual.
The department has obtained assistance by over 30 organisations with 500 staff or more to disseminate updated information to their employees during the HKMC period.
The department will make regular updating of information for the media between December 10 and 19 for immediate announcement to the public.
Main points of special traffic and transport arrangements during the HKMC are as follows:
- two ferry services: Wan Chai – Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai- Hung Hom will be suspended;
- 29 bus routes used to run via Wan Chai north will be diverted to Gloucester Road or Hennessy Road，including tunnel bus route no. 117 will run directly to the Cross Harbour Tunnel instead of via Wan Chai north;
- 15 bus routes will be diverted from Wan Chai north to the bus stop at Hennessy Road near Stewart Road/ Fleming Road;
- the terminus of the cross-boundary coach service between Wan Chai and Huanggang will be relocated to Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminus;
- taxi stands on Expo Drive East and inside Wan Chai Ferry Pier Concourse, as well as cross harbour taxi stand on Harbour Road will be suspended;
- parking spaces on Expo Drive East, Lung King Street, Hung Hing Road, Hing Fat Street Victoria Car Park, Tung Lo Wan Road, Jaffe Road, Luard Road, Stewart Road and Lockhart Road will be suspended;
- pedestrian zones on Lockhart Road (east of Cannon Street), East Point Road, Great George Street, Pak Sha Road and Lee Garden Road will be temporarily rescinded from 12 noon on December 11 to 12 midnight on December 18.
In addition, as public procession will be held on December 11, 13 and 18, TD and the Police will implement special traffic and transport measures in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Queensway and Central. People can obtain detailed information from TD hotline and website. They are advised to pay attention to radio/TV announcements on most updated information during the time.
Ends/Tuesday, December 6, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:13