TD urges motorists not to drive to Wan Chai

     The Transport Department in the early hours today (December 18) advised members of the public not to drive to Hong Kong Island and in particular Wan Chai and Causeway Bay area, and pay attention to traffic announcement before they go out today.

     Traffic on Hong Kong Island had been seriously disrupted around 6 pm yesterday (December 17)when protesters marched through Wan Chai District.

     All roads in Wan Chai were closed. Cross Harbour Tunnel south bound and Aberdeen Tunnel north bound were closed. All traffic from the east of Hong Kong Island was thus requested to turn around at Tin Hau. Traffic from the west of Hong Kong Island was requested to turn around in Central. Traffic from the Southern Districts were requested to use other alternative routes in lieu of Aberdeen Tunnel.

     In view of the road closures, public transport services had been seriously affected.  Most of the franchised bus services on Hong Kong Island were truncated and provided limited services. A special bus service 90X was carrying passengers from Exchange Square to Southern Districts via the Mid-levels.

     Tunnel buses using the Cross Harbour Tunnel were suspended while routes using Eastern Harbour Crossing and Western Harbour Crossing were maintained except those going via Wan Chai area, which were truncated at either Tin Hau or Central.

     Tram services between North Point and Chater Road were suspended.

     MTR services had been strengthened and trains skipped Wan Chai Station to facilitate police operation.

     A Transport Department spokesman thanked the public for their cooperation and understanding in such difficult sitatuions.

     The TD’s Emergency Transport Coordination Centre Joint Steering Mode monitored and responded to the situation as follows:

- Communicated with the Police to understand the latest road closure situation;
- Informed and directed franchised bus companies to divert their routes;
- Informed the MTRC to strengthen their services and activated contingency plans to cope with the rise in passenger demand;
- Alerted tunnel companies for them to activate contingency plans;
- Disseminating information to the pubic through the various channels such as radio and TV broadcast, including jam-in of radio programmes;
- Issued press releases; and
- Provided the latest information through IVRS 1834567 and TD homepage as well as Government Hotline.

     The Department also issued advices to the public not to drive to Hong Kong Island, and to remain where they were.

     The TD will continue to monitor the traffic condition, respond to the situation and advise the public on the traffic and transport arrangements.

     Members of the public were advised to pay attention to the latest radio/TV broadcast.

Ends/Sunday, December 18, 2005
Issued at HKT 00:34