Special traffic and transport arrangements for 2006 International Chinese New Year Night Parade

     Transport Department today (January 27) reminds the public that the 2006 International Chinese New Year Night Parade will be held at the Tamar Site in Admiralty on January 29.  The parade starts at Tamar Site and continues along Harcourt Road eastbound, Performing Arts Avenue, Fenwick Pier Street, Harbour Road, Fleming Road, Convention Avenue, Expo Drive and Expo Drive Central.

     To facilitate the above event, a series of temporary traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Admiralty North and Wan Chai North from 1.00 pm to 12.00 midnight in phases. The arrangements include:

1.  Road closure and traffic diversion will be implemented at Admiralty North and Wan Chai North, which include the roads in the vicinity of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Lung Wui Road, Tim Mei Avenue, Tim Wa Avenue and part of Edinburgh Place.  A section of Harcourt Road eastbound between Cotton Tree Drive and Fenwick Street will also be closed prior to the commencement of parade.  Motorists are advised to pay attention to the traffic signs and directions of the Police.

2.  Regarding the public transport services, 20 bus routes and 1 Cross Boundary Coach Service which operates along the closed roads will be temporarily diverted.  The concerned public transport operators will arrange publicity to inform affected passengers of the temporary arrangements.

3.  The bus termini at Expo Drive East and Wan Chai Ferry Pier Concourse will also be suspended.

4.  Bus stops (including the bus stop outside City Hall, Connaught Road Central and the bus stop outside Lippo Centre, Cotton Tree Drive), taxi stands and roadside parking spaces affected by road closure will be temporarily suspended.  

5.  All vehicles will be prohibited from entering the carparks and hotels within the closed roads and vehicles parked in these carparks and hotels will not be permitted to leave until the closed roads are re-opened.

     Members of the public who plan to go to the affected areas are advised to use public transport. In cases of traffic obstruction, motorists are urged to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of directions of the Police in the affected areas. The public should listen to the radio broadcasts for the latest traffic news.

     Details of the temporary traffic and transport arrangements are available at the "Traffic Notices" of the Department's Homepage (http://www.td.gov.hk). For further queries, please contact the government hotline at 1823.

Ends/Friday, January 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 13:20