Special Traffic and Transport Arrangements Announced for Chinese New Year's Eve in Hong Kong

Special traffic and transport arrangements for Chinese New Year's Eve

The Transport Department (TD) today (February 12) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in various districts on Chinese New Year's Eve (February 16) to facilitate the holiday celebration activities.

Special traffic arrangements

Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from February 16 in various places, including Hong Kong Island (including the vicinities of Causeway Bay and Tin Hau near Victoria Park), Kowloon (including the vicinities of Wong Tai Sin Temple and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground) and the New Territories (including the vicinities of Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, Shek Wu Hui in Sheung Shui, Tin Hau Temple Plaza in Tuen Mun, Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po and Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin). Some parking spaces, taxi stands and public light bus stops located in the above areas will be suspended.

Public transport service arrangements

1. In connection with road closures, the bus and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted or suspended, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated;

2. The following MTR service enhancements will be implemented:

The train frequencies of MTR lines (except the Airport Express and Disneyland Resort Line) will be enhanced in phases from 3pm on February 16, and the services in other periods will be strengthened subject to passenger demand;

Island Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tseung Kwan O Line (sections from North Point to Po Lam and from Tiu Keng Leng to LOHAS Park), South Island Line, Tung Chung Line, East Rail Line (section from Admiralty to Sheung Shui), Tuen Ma Line, and Light Rail route Nos. 505, 507, 610, 614P, 615P, 706 and 751 will provide overnight services; and

The operating hours of the Airport Express and MTR Bus route Nos. 506, K51 and K54A will be extended.

3. Eight special bus services (Citybus route No. 38S, KMB route Nos. N43, N64P, N243, N272 and Cross Harbour route Nos. N116, N600 and N601) will be operated in the small hours on the first day of the Chinese New Year (February 17);

4. Franchised bus companies will adjust the frequency/departure time or cancel some special trips of 253 routes (including 39 Citybus, 128 KMB and 86 Cross Harbour routes); extend the service hours of 22 bus routes (including 21 KMB and one Cross Harbour route) and strengthen the services of eight (including seven KMB and one Cross Harbour route) bus routes;

5. The operating hours of nine GMB routes on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories will be extended; and

6. The frequency of tram services will be strengthened subject to passenger demand.

Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System services

The service of the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System on February 16 will be extended to 3am on the following day.

Members of the public are advised to make use of public transport services as far as possible to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delays. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The Police may adjust the traffic arrangements subject to the prevailing crowd and traffic conditions in the areas. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or "HKeMobility".

For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD website (www.td.gov.hk) or mobile application "HKeMobility". Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.

Source: AI-found images

FSD, FEHD and BD conduct joint inspection and enforcement operation on licensed food premises

The Fire Services Department (FSD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Buildings Department (BD) conducted a joint inspection and enforcement operation targeting licensed premises yesterday (February 11) to inspect the fire safety conditions of a total of 30 food premises in Causeway Bay and Yuen Long, with a view to ensuring public safety.

During the operation, the FSD personnel identified multiple violations of the Fire Services (Fire Hazard Abatement) Regulation (Cap. 95F), including two cases of obstruction of means of escape, one case of wedged-open smoke stop doors, as well as 11 cases of fire service installations or equipment (FSIs) not being kept in efficient working order due to defects, removal or obstruction. The department took immediate enforcement action and issued 14 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices regarding the irregularities.

The officers of the FEHD issued verbal warnings to seven licensed restaurants, requested them to rectify the situations for failing to meet licensing conditions due to poor hygiene conditions and maintenance of the premises and equipment. The licences will be cancelled if the violations continue. Moreover, the BD has preliminarily identified that the layouts of 14 food premises did not tally with the corresponding licensed plans. The BD, in collaboration with the FEHD (i.e. the licensing authority), is currently conducting further investigations. If any breaches of licensing conditions are established, the FEHD will also take appropriate enforcement action.

Besides enforcement work, the fire personnel also carried out fire prevention publicity and education on common fire hazards and preventive measures for persons-in-charge of the relevant food premises, tenants and property management staff during the operation. The FSD emphasises that licensed premises have a high density of people and thus a relatively high fire risk. Licensees must bear the responsibility for fire safety, ensuring the means of escape are unobstructed, smoke stop doors remain closed at all times, and annual inspections and proper maintenance of FSIs are carried out as required by law. The FSD will continue to ensure the fire safety of licensed premises through interdepartmental collaboration and jointly build a safer community.