Transport Department Notice
Notice is hereby given that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented to facilitate the holding of celebrating activities during the Lunar New Year 2012 festive period and the Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po:
(I) SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
(A) Road Closure
The section of Lam Tsuen Heung Kung Sho Road between Lam Tsuen pailou and Lam Tsuen Rural Committee Office will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic (except for emergency vehicles) for the implementation of pedestrianisation scheme from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm daily during the period between 23 January and 6 February 2012.
(B) Temporary No-Stopping Zones
All vehicles will be prohibited from picking up/setting down passengers or loading/unloading goods at the following locations between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm daily from 23 January to 29 January 2012:
(i) the access road to Fong Ma Po Village between Lam Kam Road and Lam Tsuen Rural
Committee Office; and
(ii) the section of Lam Kam Road between Lam Kam Road Interchange and the access road to
Tong Sheung Tsuen (except for franchised buses and green minibuses).
The above temporary traffic control measures may also be implemented from 30 January to 6 February 2012 depending on the prevailing traffic situation.
If the prevailing traffic situation permits, public light buses and taxis may be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers at the bus stops near Hang Ha Po Tsuen and Tong Sheung Tsuen on Lam Kam Road, but waiting of passengers at the above bus stops will be strictly prohibited.
(C) Temporary Vehicle Holding Area
A temporary vehicle holding area will be designated at the government land between Lam Tsuen Public School and Hang Ha Po Tsuen during the period between 23 January and 6 February 2012 to facilitate vehicles arriving in the area for boarding/alighting passengers. Drivers will be advised to pick up and set down passengers at locations according to the instructions from Police officers on site.
Where necessary, the Police will restrict the entry of vehicles from Lam Kam Road at its junction with Fong Ma Po Village to the above temporary vehicle holding area. Only franchised buses, coaches, green minibuses, taxis with passengers and vehicles of Lam Tsuen residents will be allowed to enter the area.
(D) Temporary Traffic Diversion
During the period between 23 January and 6 February 2012, it is anticipated that the traffic in Lam Tsuen area will be very busy. If there is serious traffic congestion occurred on Lam Kam Road, Police will implement intermittent traffic control measures to restrict vehicles using Lam Kam Road and Lam Kam Interchange. All vehicles, except franchised buses, green minibuses, taxis with passengers and vehicles of Lam Tsuen residents, heading for Lam Kam Road (Pat Heung bound) will only be permitted to travel via Kwong Fuk Interchange and the nearside lane of the slip road leading from Tolo Highway northbound to Lam Kam Road Interchange.
(II) PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS
(A) Enhancement of Public Transport Services
As very busy traffic is expected in Lam Tsuen area, members of the public are strongly advised to use public transport services as far as possible to visit the “Wishing Tree” at Lam Tsuen during the festive period. The following franchised bus and green minibus services will be strengthened during the festive period, subject to passenger demand:
(i) Franchised Bus Services
KMB will operate a special service route no. 63R between Tai Po Market Station and Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree from 23 to 25 January and 28 to 29 January 2012 to cater for the passenger demand. The service of KMB route no. 64K (Tai Po Market Station – Yuen Long West) will be strengthened subject to demand.
(ii) Green Minibus (“GMB”) Services
The service of GMB Route No. 25K (Tai Po Market – Ng Tung Chai) will be strengthened from 23 to 25 January and 28 to 29 January 2012 to cater for passenger demand.
Special trips of GMB Route No. 25K will also be operated between Tai Wo Station and Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm daily from 23 to 25 January and 28 to 29 January 2012.
(III) ENFORCEMENT
Appropriate traffic aids will be provided and Police officers will be stationed on site to guide motorists. Actual implementation of the above road closure, traffic control measures and traffic diversions will be made by Police officers on site at the time depending on the traffic and crowd situation.
Motorists are advised that no public parking facilities will be provided in the vicinity of Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree. Stringent enforcement action will be taken against vehicles illegally parked in the area. Any illegal parked vehicles causing obstruction to the free traffic flow will be towed away without warning by Police.
(IV) ATTENTION AND APPEAL
It is anticipated that the traffic in Lam Tsuen area during Lunar New Year period will be very busy. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to Lam Tsuen as far as possible and should exercise
tolerance and patience in case of traffic congestion.
Depending on the prevailing circumstances, other ad-hoc traffic measures and public transport arrangements may be taken by the Police at short notice. Members of the public are advised to follow the instructions of the Police on site.
Members of the public are advised to watch out for the latest news on traffic and transport arrangements announced by Transport Department and the Police through radio and television broadcast.
Joseph Y T LAI Commissioner for Transport