|
An emergency transport co-ordination centre will be set up to monitor traffic round-the-clock during the WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference period, during which three large-scale protests will be staged.
Police Traffic HK Island Senior Superintendent Nelson Lui said the public processions will be held on December 11, 13 and 18, with about 7,000 to 10,000 protesters expected to join each procession.
Police have been keeping in close touch with the organisers while finalising the routes to keep traffic disruption to a minimum.
On December 11, protesters will gather at Victoria Park. They will pass through Sugar Street and Hennessy Road heading for Central Government Offices. A total of 85 bus routes and 22 minibus routes will be affected.
On December 13, the public procession will march from Victoria Park to the Wan Chai Public Cargo Working Area via Lockhart Road. A total of eight bus routes and nine minibus routes will be diverted.
The December 18 procession will set off from Victoria Park to the Wan Chai Public Cargo Working Area via Hennessy Road. A total of 60 bus routes and 10 minibus routes will be affected.
Contingency arrangements
Mr Lui said contingency arrangements will be made if the number of protesters is higher than expected.
Mr Lui said the closed area will cover the conference venue and its environs, including the roads leading to the Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai Ferry Piers and the Tamar Site, as well as the sea area around the Convention & Exhibition Centre. The area will be officially closed from 6pm on December 12 to 5am on December 19.
Assistant Commissioner for Transport Anthony Loo said temporary traffic arrangements will be implemented during the period. The following facilities and services will be suspended:
* taxi stands on Expo Drive East, inside Wan Chai Ferry Pier Concourse and on Harbour Road;
* parking spaces on Expo Drive East and Lung King Street;
* ferry services from Wan Chai Ferry Pier to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom;
* the bus terminals at Expo Drive East outside the Golden Bauhinia Square and at the Wan Chai Ferry Pier Concourse outside Great Eagle Centre;
* the en-route bus stops on Convention Avenue, Fleming Road and Harbour Road; and
* the pedestrian zones at East Point Road and Pak Sha Road.
29 buses, one coach service affected
In this connection, 13 bus routes will be diverted to stop at Gloucester Road outside/opposite Immigration Tower. They are 5P, 18, 18P, 104, 373A, 621, 720, 720A, M722, 780, 788, 914X and N8P.
Fifteen bus routes, including 2A, 2X, 8, 8P, 25A, 25C, 40, 40M, 46X, 641, 905, 948P, 960, 961 and N8, will be diverted from Wan Chai North to the bus stop at Hennessy Road near Stewart Road/Fleming Road.
Cross harbour route 117 will proceed direct to Cross Harbour Tunnel from Canal Road West.
The cross-boundary coach terminal that serves routes between Wan Chai and Huanggang will be relocated to Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminal.
More details are available here.
Deputy Commissioner for Transport Carolina Yip said the about 20,000 bus commuters who usually board or alight at the bus stops/terminals in Wan Chai North as well as about 20,000 ferry passengers will be affected.
Cross-harbour tunnels to offer concessions
To help divert road traffic from the Causeway Bay and Wan Chai area and the Cross-Harbour Tunnel during the conference period, Ms Yip said Western and Eastern Harbour Crossings will offer 14%-25% concessions on tolls for private cars, taxis and goods vehicles from December 13 to 18.
She said they would work out and implement temporary traffic arrangements when necessary. As traffic on Hong Kong Island will be busier than usual, she advised the public to call the department's 24-hour hotline, 183 4567, for the latest traffic updates.
Motorists and commuters are urged to:
* avoid travelling to affected or congested areas, especially Wan Chai North, unless really necessary;
* use public transport;
* avoid the Cross-Harbour Tunnel;
* plan travel early, use alternative routes and allow more travel time to cater for unexpected delays; and,
* watch for Government traffic updates.
Go To Top
|
