Crowd Safety Measures and Traffic Arrangements for Northern Metropolis Marathon This Sunday

Crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements for Northern Metropolis Marathon 2026

The Police today (October 29) reminded the public that crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will be implemented from tomorrow (October 30) to facilitate the Northern Metropolis Marathon 2026 this Sunday (November 1). Members of the public are urged to plan their journeys in advance and to make use of public transport and shuttle bus services as far as possible.

The Hong Kong Police Force. Photo source: reference image

(I) Temporary road closures and traffic diversions

Depending on the actual finishing time of the race, and complete clearance for safe reopening of roads to vehicular traffic, the following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic at the time specified below:

(A) Road closures – public carriageway

Phase I

From 2am to about 8am on November 1

- On Lai Street between Tai Chung Kiu Road and On Sum Street (except the slow lane of On Lai Street eastbound between Tai Chung Kiu Road and On Ping Street);

- The slow lane of On Sum Street northbound between CLP Power Hong Kong Limited – Shatin Centre and On Lai Street; and

- On Muk Street between Yu Tak Court and the cul-de-sac.

Traffic diversions

- Vehicles on On Lai Street southbound heading for On Sum Street will be diverted via On Ping Street;

- Vehicles on On Sum Street heading for On King Street will be diverted via On Lai Street eastbound, On Kwan Street northbound, On Yiu Street eastbound, On Ming Street southbound, Siu Lek Yuen Road westbound and Tai Chung Kiu Road northbound; and

- Vehicles on On Sum Street northbound between On Muk Street and On Lai Street heading for Tai Chung Kiu Road will be diverted via On Sum Street northbound and On Sum Street westbound.

Phase II

From 3am to about 11am on November 1

- Heung Yuen Wai Highway northbound between Fanling Highway and Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang;

- Lung Shan Tunnel northbound;

- The right-turn lane on Pak Wo Road northbound leading to Fanling Highway southbound;

- The slip road leading from Fanling Highway northbound to Heung Yuen Wai Highway northbound;

- The link road between Fanling Highway southbound and Fanling Highway Bus Interchange;

- The link road between Fanling Highway southbound and Tai Wo Service Road East;

- Tai Wo Service Road East between Caltex Kau Lung Hang and Kiu Tau;

- The link road between Fanling Highway Bus Interchange and Heung Yuen Wai Highway northbound; and

- All access roads between Kau Lung Hang and Fanling Highway Bus Interchange.

Traffic diversions

- Vehicles on Jockey Club Road southbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound via Fanling Highway Bus Interchange will be diverted via the temporary slip road leading from Jockey Club Road to Fanling Highway southbound;

- Vehicles on Pak Wo Road northbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via Jockey Club Road northbound, U-turn at Jockey Club Road - Sha Tau Kok Road roundabout, Jockey Club Road southbound, and the temporary slip road leading from Jockey Club Road to Fanling Highway southbound;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway southbound heading for Heung Yuen Wai Highway northbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway southbound, U-turn at Lam Kam Road Interchange, Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound and Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang northbound;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway southbound heading for Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang northbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway southbound, U-turn at Lam Kam Road Interchange, Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound and Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway southbound heading for Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang southbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway southbound, U-turn at Lam Kam Road Interchange, Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound and U-turn at Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang roundabout;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway southbound heading for Tai Wo Service Road East will be diverted via Fanling Highway southbound, U-turn at Lam Kam Road Interchange, Tai Wo Service Road West northbound and Kau Lung Hang Vehicular Bridge;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway northbound heading for Heung Yuen Wai Highway northbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound and Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang northbound;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway northbound heading for Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang northbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound and Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound;

- Vehicles on Fanling Highway northbound heading for Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang southbound will be diverted via Fanling Highway northbound, Fanling Bypass northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound, Sha Tau Kok Road – Ma Mei Ha northbound and U-turn at Sha Tau Kok Road – Wo Hang roundabout; and

– Vehicles on Tai Wo Service Road East heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via Kau Lung Hang Vehicular Bridge, Tai Wo Service Road West southbound and Lam Kam Road Interchange.

Phase III

From 3am to about 3pm on November 1

– Fung Ling Road northbound between Ma Sik Road and Fanling Bypass;

– Fanling Bypass southbound between Fung Ling Road and Fanling Highway;

– The slip road leading from Fanling Bypass southbound to Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange; and

– The slip road leading from Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange to Fanling Bypass southbound.

Traffic diversions

– Vehicles on Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau northbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via U-turn at Lung Yeuk Tau roundabout, Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau southbound, Lok Yip Road eastbound and Jockey Club Road southbound;

– Vehicles on Sha Tau Kok Road – Lung Yeuk Tau southbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via Lok Yip Road eastbound and Jockey Club Road southbound;

– Vehicles on Ma Sik Road northbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via Fan Leng Lau Road southbound, Lok Yip Road eastbound and Jockey Club Road southbound; and

– Vehicles on Ma Sik Road southbound heading for Fanling Highway southbound will be diverted via So Kwun Po Road southbound and Fanling Highway southbound.

Phase IV

– A section of Tai Chung Kiu Road between On Sum Street and Siu Lek Yuen Road will be temporarily closed from 6.20 am to about 6.35 am on November 1.

(B) Road closures – public cycle tracks

Phase I

From 4am to about 8am on November 1

– Cycle track between Tai Chung Kiu Road (near On Muk Street Garden) and Shui Chong Street (via Twin Bridge);

Phase II

From 4am to about 8.30 am on November 1

– Cycle track between Shui Chong Street and MTR University Station.

Phase III

From 4am to about 10am on November 1

– Cycle track between Tung Cheong Street and Plover Cove Road (near Tai Po River).

Phase IV

From 6am to about 10am on November 1

– Cycle track between Mui Shu Hang Road and Hong Lok Yuen Road.

Phase V

From 6am to about noon on November 1

– Cycle track between Hong Lok Yuen Road and Yuk Tong Path; and

– Cycle track between Police Driving and Traffic Training Centre and Ling Shan Road.

(C) Partial closures – public footpath

Phase I

From 4am to about 8am on November 1

– The western footpath along On Lai Street between On Ping Street and Tai Chung Kiu Road;

– The southern footpath along Tai Chung Kiu Road between On Lai Street and On Muk Street Garden; and

– The footpath on footbridge NF149 across Tolo Highway near Shui Chong Street.

Pedestrians can use the remaining width of footpath in the above sections.

Phase II

From 4am to about 9am on November 1

– The footpath between University Station Cycling Entry/Exit Hub and Pak Shek Kok Promenade;

– The footpath within Pak Shek Kok Promenade; and

– The footpath along Tolo Harbour between Chong San Road Public Toilet and Island House Lane.

Pedestrians can use the remaining width of footpath in the above sections.

Phase III

From 4am to about 10am on November 1

– The footpath within Yuen Chau Tsai Park and Kwong Nam Sitting-out Area;

– The footpath along Lam Tsuen River between Nam Wan Road Sitting-out Area and Mui Shue Hang Playground;

– The footpath within Mui Shue Hang Playground; and

– The southern footpath along Mui Shue Hang Road between Parc Versailles I and Tai Po Road – Tai Wo.

Pedestrians can use the remaining width of footpath in the above sections.

Phase IV

From 6am to about noon on November 1

– Northern and southern footpath along Hong Lok Yuen Road;

– Northern footpath along Jockey Club Road between Yuk Tong Path and Ma Sik Road (except the section between Police Driving and Traffic Training Centre and Ling Shan Road);

– Western footpath along Ma Sik Road between Jockey Club Road and Fung Ling Road; and

– Eastern and western footpaths along Tin Ping Road outside Wai Chow Public School (Sheung Shui).

Pedestrians can use the remaining width of footpath in the above sections.

Phase V

From 6.30 am to about 6.45 am on November 1

– The eastern footpath along On Muk Street between cul-de-sac and On Sum Street;

– The northern footpath along On Sum Street between On Lai Street and On Muk Street; and

– The western footpath along On Lai Street between On Sum Street and On Ping Street.

Pedestrians can use the remaining width of footpath in the above sections.

(II) Suspension of parking spaces and general lay-by

– All public parking spaces on Fung Nam Road near North District Sports Ground and the general lay-by on Fung Nam Road will be suspended from 8am on October 30 to 5pm on November 1; and

– All parking spaces in On Kwan Street will be suspended from 6pm on October 31 to 8am on November 1.

Shuttle bus services and temporary pick-up/drop-off points will be provided by the event organiser. Please visit the event website (hknmm.com/en/event-details#transportation) for details.

Vehicles will not be allowed to enter or exit the hotels and car parks within the closed areas, until the roads are reopened.

During the implementation of the special traffic arrangements, any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts of the specified areas will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to ticketing.

Depending on the prevailing conditions, other traffic control measures will be implemented. Motorists are advised to exercise patience and tolerance, and take heed of instructions of the police officers on site.

Source: AI-created image

Statement by ExCo Non-official Members

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

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (October 29) issued the following statement on the Government's follow-up work in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court:

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today released the report of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Chief Executive and Principal Officials also held a press conference to give an account of relevant matters to the public. ExCo Non-official Members expressed full support for the Government in facing up to the problems, shouldering responsibility, and pursuing comprehensive reforms.

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "The Chief Executive and Principal Officials have clearly explained to the public the Government's follow-up work, and, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, apologised to the residents of Wang Fuk Court and the community, demonstrating sincerity and political commitment. The Chief Executive also called on his team to continue to give their utmost in their respective positions in pressing ahead with various reforms and the extensive work ahead, while drawing lessons from the incident and better exercising leadership to step up the implementation of the result-oriented governing approach. I support this position."

"The Government's plans to implement comprehensive reform on the basis of the Independent Committee's report are comprehensive and pragmatic, addressing the crux of the issues. I concur with the seven major directions of systemic reform put forward by the Government. These include combatting bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects, establishing a cross-departmental task force to combat crimes related to bid-rigging in such projects, establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, reforming the operation and regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation, reforming the structure of the Buildings Department, establishing a centralised data system and reforming the complaint mechanism, and establishing a steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to follow up on the Independent Committee's recommendations."

As regards accountability, the Government has demonstrated its determination to pursue responsibility comprehensively and enforce accountability at various levels. On criminal liability, law enforcement authorities have successively instituted prosecutions against the companies and individuals involved in the incident. The Government has also initiated the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism under the Heads of Department Accountability System, and is strictly following up on the administrative responsibility of the civil servants concerned. As for political accountability, the Chief Executive, having considered a wide range of factors, decided that the Secretary for Housing should take political accountability, and has accepted the Secretary's resignation.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court has exposed a number of long-standing inadequacies at different systemic levels, and the issues involved are complex and intertwined. Properly addressing these issues requires firm resolve as well as precise and decisive decision-making. ExCo Non-official Members will give their full support to the Government in taking forward comprehensive reforms and will continue to fully support its governance. ExCo Non-official Members firmly believe that, as long as society works together with dedication to turn grief into the strength to move forward, learns from the experience, and thoroughly implements systemic reforms, similar incidents can certainly be prevented, making Hong Kong a safer and better home.