Transport Department Urges Public to Use Public Transport for Buddha Holiday Travel

TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early before and after Birthday of Buddha holiday

A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) announced today (May 21) that, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs) before and after the Birthday of the Buddha holiday, cross-boundary travellers are urged to use public transport services between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services before and after the Birthday of the Buddha for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:

• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Linebetween Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times based on passenger demand;

• The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and designated Mainland Stations will operate additional temporary train trips daily from May 22 to 25 (see details at the 12306.cn website);

• Increasing the frequencies of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about one minute and two minutes respectively during peak hours;

• Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and

• The frequency of local franchised bus Broutes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

The spokesman reminded HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai, "The temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic, and the traffic of the Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads has become very busy during peak periods of holidays. Travellers should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early, allow sufficient travelling time and remain patient while waiting."

As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, before and after the Birthday of the Buddha to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

Information dissemination

To plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

Photo source: Xinhua News

HKSAR LegCo strongly condemns smearing and slanderous remarks by external forces on the "Hong Kong Alliance" case

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (22 August) expressed strong opposition and dissatisfaction with, and strongly condemned, the malicious attacks, slanders and smearing against the judicial system and national security laws of Hong Kong by various western countries, anti-China media, organisations and politicians, using the court's verdict of conviction concerning the case of "incitement to subversion of state power by the Hong Kong Alliance".

A spokesperson for LegCo pointed out, "The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state, making clear that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the cornerstone of the constitutional order of the People's Republic of China. As an inalienable part of our country, Hong Kong must firmly uphold its constitutional order. Any attempt to subvert the fundamental system of the country will not be tolerated in any society under the rule of law. The court's verdict precisely reflects the spirit of the rule of law in conducting independent trials in accordance with the law."

The LegCo spokesperson stressed that the reasons for the court's verdict were detailed, clearly pointing out that the trial of the case was never targeted at the defendants' political views, but was based on objective law and evidence, strictly following the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and other relevant laws. After the HKNSL came into effect, the defendants still persistently pressed ahead with subversion activities, and their acts clearly went beyond the boundaries of lawful freedom of expression. The entire trial procedure was open and transparent, and the verdict was lawful, fair and reasonable, conforming to the fundamental interests of Hong Kong. It is an inevitable requirement for the comprehensive and accurate implementation of the HKNSL as well as relevant legal systems and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. LegCo solemnly urges external forces to immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, respect the rule of law and judicial independence in Hong Kong, and refrain from smearing Hong Kong's judicial system with double standards.

The LegCo spokesperson pointed out that freedoms of speech and association are not absolute. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also expressly states that restrictions may be prescribed by law under the prerequisite of safeguarding national security, among others. Members of the public must distinguish the rights from wrongs and clearly draw the line between this case and the normal expression of opinions.

The spokesperson reiterated that national security is the fundamental prerequisite for Hong Kong's prosperity and stability. Safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the fundamental premise of the "one country, two systems". Only by safeguarding national security can the various lawful rights and interests of the public be effectively protected, and favourable conditions be created for Hong Kong's long-term development. The spokesperson further emphasized that, for Hong Kong to advance from stability to prosperity, equal emphasis must be placed on both security and development. Security and development are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other. There is no finished state, only an ongoing process; security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee for security, neither of which can be dispensed with.

Under the executive-led system, LegCo, as the Legislature of the HKSAR, will certainly continue to fully support the HKSAR Government in administering in accordance with the law and firmly safeguarding national security, ensuring the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems".

Source: AI-found images