Traffic arrangements for Christmas on Hong Kong Island (with photos)
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Police will implement special traffic arrangements and crowd management in various parts on Hong Kong Island during Christmas to facilitate the public to celebrate the festive season.

The arrangements from December 24 to December 26 are as follows:

A. Lan Kwai Fong

As a large number of people are expected, those wishing to enter Lan Kwai Fong may have to wait an undetermined time to gain access. Those with restaurant bookings are advised to arrive at their venues early. Once the queuing system is implemented, people wishing to enter the area will be required to join the queue. Parents are advised not to bring small children into the area.

To cope with the congregation of crowds, the following road closures will be introduced in phases from 5pm on December 24 to 6am on the following day and from 7pm on December 25 and 26 to 4am on the following day:

Road closure

Phase I -
Normal traffic flow will be maintained.

Phase II -
The special pedestrian precinct will be implemented in a section of D'Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Wing Wah Lane, Wo On Lane and a section of Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street.

Phase III -

A section of D'Aguilar Street between Queen's Road Central and Wellington Street and a section of Stanley Street between D'Aguilar Street and Pottinger Street may be closed.

When the whole of D'Aguilar Street becomes congested with people, special crowd control arrangements will be implemented immediately. The crowds will be directed to queue up along Wellington Street, Pottinger Street, Stanley Street, D'Aguilar Street and Queen's Road Central.

Phase IV -
Wyndham Street from Glenealy to Queen's Road Central and On Lan Street will be closed for crowd dispersal.

Suspension of on-street parking and green minibus stand

All on-street parking spaces and the green minibus stand on Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D'Aguilar Street and on Stanley Street between D'Aguilar Street and Pottinger Street will be suspended between 5pm on December 24 and 6am on December 25. All on-street parking spaces on On Lan Street and on Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and Glenealy will also be suspended during the same period.

Suspension of bus stops

All bus stops on D'Aguilar Street between Queen's Road Central and Wellington Street will be suspended from 5pm on December 24 to 6am on December 25.

B. Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct

Starting 8pm on December 24 until 11.59pm on December 26, the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct will be put in place. The following roads will be closed:

- A section of Chater Road between Pedder Street and Jackson Road; and
- A section of Ice House Street between Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central.

C. Garden Road

To facilitate the dispersal of people after a religious gathering in St.Joseph's Church on Garden Road sometime between midnight and 1am on December 25, the outer lane of Garden Road between Kennedy Road and Lady May Path may be coned off for pedestrians.

D. Victoria Park

a. Pedestrianization

The following roads will be pedestrianised from 4pm to midnight on December 24 and from noon to midnight on December 25 and 26:
- A section of Lockhart Road east of Cannon Street;
- East Point Road; and
- A section of Great George Street between Paterson Street and East Point Road.

b. Road closure/traffic diversions

During the 43rd Hong Kong Product Expo, the following road closures and traffic diversions may be implemented to increase the crowd flow in the vicinity of Causeway Bay from 6pm onwards on December 24, 25 and 26:
- A section of northbound Gloucestor Road Service Road between Kingston Street and the "U" turn loop of southbound Gloucestor Road Service Road will be closed;
- Sugar Street will be closed;
- A section of Paterson Street between Kingston Street and Great George Street will be closed;
- Westbound Kingston Street will be closed;
- Traffic from Cleveland Street will not be allowed to turn right into Kingston Street;
- A section of southbound Gloucester Road between Causeway Road and the ramp leading from Victoria Park Road Flyover will be closed, but the northbound traffic from Tai Hang Road Flyover will be maintained;
- Traffic from Victoria Park Road Flyover will be diverted to westbound Gloucester Road Service Road;
- Great George Street will be closed; and
- Hing Fat Street will intermittently be closed except for franchised buses and green mini buses, depending on the situation of crowd dispersal;

Suspension of car parks
- The parking spaces of Hing Fat Street Public Car Park will be temporarily suspended until 6pm on January 5, 2009, except the 15 parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces near the swimming pool, and all disabled parking spaces; and
- Vehicles are prohibited to access and leave the public car parks at Great George Street and the Park Lane Hotel during the road closure period.

E. Illegal parking
Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above may be towed without prior warning or may be subject to multiple ticketing.

Police appeal to members of the public to exercise patience and to follow Police instructions at scene.

Police Report No. 3
Issued by PPRB

Ends/Monday, December 22, 2008
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