Special Traffic Arrangements for National Day Fireworks on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon

Special traffic arrangements for National Day Fireworks Display on October 1

Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon to facilitate the National Day Fireworks Display to be held on October 1 (Tuesday).

Kowloon

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Crowd safety management measures in Tsim Sha Tsui

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Police will implement crowd safety management measures in Yau Tsim District and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade, including pedestrianising roads at Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom Waterfront Promenade in phases.

Depending on the prevailing crowd situation, Police will implement safety measures within the pedestrianised areas including the closure of pedestrian subways and putting up barriers. One-way flow will be applied on overcrowded footbridges and in the vicinity of the waterfront promenade. If necessary, restrictions on access to MTR stations will be put into force by the MTR Corporation Limited.

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the vicinity of the Clock Tower, and the Avenue of Stars are known to be popular gathering and vantage points. When these areas are saturated, the crowd will be diverted to other areas.

At present, there are some construction works at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The contractors have erected hoardings and barriers to seal off the area concerned with relevant notices displayed. Members of the public are urged not to enter these sites and not to climb or lean against the barriers.

Members of the public should follow the instructions given by Police officers and take heed of Police signage and broadcasts at scene.

Special traffic arrangements

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The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

A. Road closure and traffic diversions

Phase I (from 6pm onwards)

The following roads will be closed:

- Eastbound and westbound Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;

- Southbound and northbound Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Metropolis Drive;

- Southbound Salisbury Road between Hong Chong Road and Hung Hom Bypass;

- Eastbound and westbound Salisbury Road between Science Museum Road and Kowloon Park Drive, including Salisbury Road’s eastbound and westbound underpass;

- The U-turn slip road of Salisbury Road leading from eastbound Salisbury Road U-turn to westbound Salisbury Road;

- Hong Wan Path;

- Mody Lane;

- Mody Road;

- Mody Square;

- Granville Square;

- Granville Road between Chatham Road South and Science Museum Road, except for franchised buses and green minibuses (GMBs) (the road will be will be re-routed to one-way eastbound);

- Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Salisbury Road;

- Southbound Chatham Road South between Cheong Wan Road and Granville Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;

- Northbound Chatham Road South between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;

- Southbound and northbound Carnarvon Road between Granville Road and Nathan Road;

- Hau Fook Street;

- Cameron Lane;

- Cameron Road;

- Humphreys Avenue;

- Prat Avenue;

- Hart Avenue;

- Hanoi Road;

- Bristol Avenue;

- Minden Row;

- Minden Avenue;

- Blenheim Avenue;

- Middle Road;

- Northbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Salisbury Road;

- Southbound Nathan Road between Granville Road and Salisbury Road;

- Southbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road;

- Southbound Canton Road between Kowloon Park Drive and Salisbury Road;

- Ashley Road;

- Hankow Road;

- Lock Road;

- Haiphong Road;

- Ichang Street; and

- Peking Road.

During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

- Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed from Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road South roundabout;

- Traffic along eastbound Metropolis Drive cannot turn right to southbound Hung Hom Bypass;

- Traffic along southbound Hung Hom Bypass must turn right to westbound Metropolis Drive;

- Traffic along westbound Cheong Wan Road leading to Chatham Road South must turn right to northbound Chatham Road South or go straight to westbound Austin Road, except for franchised buses and GMBs;

- Franchised buses and GMBs along southbound Chatham Road South must turn left to eastbound Granville Road;

- Franchised buses along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Public Square Street or westbound Jordan Road;

- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road. Vehicles must go straight to Nga Cheung Road direction or turn left to southbound Wui Man Road;

- Traffic along southbound Canton Road must make a U-turn to northbound Canton Road outside China Hong Kong City;

- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn left to southbound Canton Road;

- Traffic along eastbound Salisbury Road must turn left to northbound Kowloon Park Drive;

- Traffic along northbound Kowloon Park Drive cannot turn right to Peking Road;

- Westbound Granville Road between Nathan Road and Carnarvon Road will turn to eastbound contraflow. Traffic along southbound Nathan Road will be instructed to turn left to eastbound Granville Road;

- Traffic along Science Museum Road cannot turn to Mody Road and Granville Road;

- Traffic along southbound Salisbury Road near Hong Chong Road will be diverted to Tsim Sha Tsui East; and

- Traffic along eastbound Granville Road must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South.

Phase II (from 6.30pm onwards)

The following roads will be closed:

- Northbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road; and

- Eastbound and westbound Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive.

Phase III (from 7pm onwards)

The following roads will be closed:

- The U-turn slip road of Austin Road West near the Xiqu Centre leading from westbound Austin Road West U-turn to eastbound Austin Road West;

- The first lane of Austin Road West leading to Austin Road West roundabout;

- The U-turn slip road of Austin Road West near The Harbourside leading from eastbound Austin Road West U-turn to westbound Austin Road West;

- Museum Drive; and

- Cultural Drive.

During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

- Traffic along eastbound and westbound Austin Road West cannot enter the slip roads of Austin Road West; and

- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road entering Austin Road West roundabout cannot turn to Museum Drive. Vehicles will be directed to eastbound Austin Road West or northbound Nga Cheung Road.

Phase IV (from 8.45pm onwards)

The following roads will be closed:

- Southbound and northbound Nathan Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road;

- Eastbound Bowring Street between Pilkem Street and Nathan Road;

- Eastbound Tak Shing Street between Tak Hing Street and Nathan Road;

- Southbound Nathan Road between Austin Road and Granville Road;

- Pine Tree Hill Road;

- Hillwood Road;

- Carnarvon Road between Kimberley Road and Granville Road;

- Shun Yee Street;

- Granville Circuit;

- Northbound Chatham Road South between Observatory Road and Granville Road;

- Kimberley Road between Nathan Road and Observatory Road;

- Kimberley Street;

- Granville Road between Nathan Road and Chatham Road South;

- Southbound and northbound Canton Road between Austin Road and Kowloon Park Drive;

- Austin Road West roundabout between the entrance of Austin Road West and the exit and entrance of Museum Drive; and

- Southbound and northbound Nga Cheung Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road West.

During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

- Traffic along southbound Nathan Road must turn right to westbound Jordan Road;

- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road cannot turn left to southbound Nathan Road;

- Traffic along westbound Austin Road and southbound Cox’s Road cannot turn to Pine Tree Hill Road;

- Traffic along Observatory Road cannot turn to westbound Kimberley Street;

- Traffic along northbound Pilkem Street cannot turn right to eastbound Bowring Street;

- Traffic along eastbound Bowring Street must turn left to northbound Pilkem Street;

- Traffic along southbound Canton Road cannot go straight. Vehicles must turn left to eastbound Austin Road or turn right to westbound Austin Road West;

- Traffic along eastbound Austin Road West cannot turn right. Vehicles must turn left to northbound Canton Road or go straight to eastbound Austin Road;

- Traffic along northbound Gateway Boulevard must leave from northbound Kowloon Park Drive;

- Traffic along westbound Jordan Road must turn to the Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange after turning left to southbound Nga Cheung Road;

- Traffic along westbound Austin Road West must go straight to Nga Cheung Road elevated road; and

- Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road entering Austin Road West roundabout must turn left to eastbound Austin Road West.

Contingency plan

If necessary, the following roads will be closed:

- Hung Luen Road between Wa Shun Street and Hung Lok Road;

- Oi King Street; and

- Kin Wan Street.

During the above road closure period, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

- Traffic along westbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to Wa Shun Street;

- Traffic along Wa Shun Street must turn right to eastbound Hung Luen Road;

- Traffic along southbound Hung Lok Road cannot turn left to eastbound Hung Luen Road; and

- Traffic along eastbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to northbound Hung Lok Road.

B. Suspension of Bus Terminus and Public Transport Interchange

The following Bus Terminus and Public Transport Interchange will be suspended, until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

The Mody Road Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6pm.

The Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6.30pm.

The China Hong Kong City Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 8.45pm.

C. Suspension of car park

Vehicles will not be permitted to access or leave car parks in the affected areas during the road closure period.

D. Suspension of on-street parking spaces

All on-street parking spaces located at Tsim Sha Tsui South (i.e. South of Austin Road) will be suspended from noon on October 1 to 0.01am of the following day.

Hong Kong Island

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A. Road closure

Phase I (Before the fireworks display)

Central District

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Tramway Lane outside Lower Peak Tram Station leading from Garden Road to the office of World Wild Fund for Nature Hong Kong will be closed from 2pm to 11.59pm, except for franchised buses.

Wan Chai North

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Expo Drive East at the north of Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square including the pick-up and drop-off areas will be closed from 4pm to 11.59pm.

The following roads will be closed from 7.30pm onwards:

Central District

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- Man Kwong Street;

- Man Fai Street;

- Man Yiu Street between Man Kwong Street and Man Po Street;

- Loading and unloading area outside Central Ferry Piers 7, 8 and 9; and

- Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office.

Central - Wan Chai Bypass

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- The slip road linking eastbound Central - Wan Chai Bypass to Expo Drive;

- The slip road linking Lung Wo Road to eastbound Central - Wan Chai Bypass; and

- The slip road linking westbound Central - Wan Chai Bypass to Lung Wo Road.

Wan Chai North

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- Eastbound Fenwick Pier Street;

- Lung King Street;

- Eastbound Harbour Road;

- Expo Drive;

- Expo Drive Central;

- Expo Drive East;

- Lung Wo Road between Lung Hop Street and Fleming Road;

- Lung Tat Path;

- Convention Avenue;

- Fleming Road Flyover;

- Fleming Road between Expo Drive and Harbour Road;

- Northbound Tonnochy Road between eastbound Harbour Road and Hung Hing Road;

- Southbound Tonnochy Road between Hung Hing Road and Gloucester Road;

- Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hung Hing Road;

- Marsh Road Flyover;

- Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;

- Hung Hing Road;

- Hung Hing Road Flyover;

- Wan Shing Street; and

- Wan Ying Street.

Peak Area

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- Northbound Peak Road beyond the car park entrance of Peak Galleria, except for residents’ vehicles;

- Barker Road, except for residents’ vehicles;

- All laybys along Stubbs Road between Peak Road and Stubbs Road roundabout; and

- All laybys along Magazine Gap Road between Peak Road and May Road.

The following roads will be closed from 8pm onwards:

Eastern District

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- Watson Road;

- Whitfield Road;

- Glass Street;

- King Ming Road;

- Hing Fat Street northward of Whitfield Road; and

- Victoria Park Road (Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter).

The following roads will be closed from 8.15pm onwards:

Central District

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- Yiu Sing Street;

- Lung Wo Road;

- Edinburgh Place;

- Tim Wa Avenue;

- Legislative Council Road;

- Tim Mei Avenue;

- Lung Wui Road;

- Lung Hop Street;

- Unnamed road between Harcourt Road and Performing Arts Avenue;

- Performing Arts Avenue; and

- Edinburgh Place.

Wan Chai North

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- Tonnochy Road Flyover;

- Northbound Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;

- Westbound Harbour Road;

- Harbour Drive;

- Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road; and

- Fenwick Street between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road.

Phase II (During the fireworks display)

The following roads will be closed from 8.55pm to 9.28pm:

Eastern District

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- Westbound Island Eastern Corridor between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street, except for franchised buses;

- Slip roads leading to westbound Island Eastern Corridor from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road; and

- Westbound Central - Wan Chai Bypass.

Phase III (After the fireworks display)

The following roads will be closed from 8.55pm onwards:

Central District

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- Man Yiu Street between Man Cheung Street and Man Po Street;

- Man Po Street; and

- Finance Street between Man Yiu Street and Man Po Street.

Wan Chai South

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- Lockhart Road between Percival Street and Luard Road;

- Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road;

- Southbound Luard Road between Gloucester Road and Jaffe Road;

- O’Brien Road;

- Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;

- Stewart Road;

- Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;

- Marsh Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;

- Canal Road West between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;

- Canal Road East between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road;

- If necessary, Percival Street between Lockhart Road and Gloucester Road; and

- If necessary, westbound Gloucester Road service road between Percival Street and Canal Road East.

B. Traffic Diversions

In connection with the above road closure, the following traffic diversions will be implemented:

From 7.30pm onwards:

- Rumsey Street between Chung Kong Road and Connaught Road Central will be re-routed to one-way southbound; and

- All uphill traffic along Peak Road towards Harlech Road, Lugard Road and Mount Austin Road will be diverted downhill via the slip road beside the car park entrance at the Peak Galleria, except for residents’ vehicles or vehicles with permits.

From 8.55pm to 9.28pm:

Traffic along westbound Island Eastern Corridor will be diverted to Man Hong Street.

From 8.55pm onwards:

Traffic along eastbound Connaught Road West Flyover will be diverted to Finance Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces

All on-street metered, motorcycle and disabled parking spaces (Meter nos: 3186 to 3188, 3190 to 3193 and 3197) at Tramway Lane outside Lower Peak Tram Station will be suspended from 1pm to 11pm.

All on-street parking spaces at Expo Drive East at the north of Expo Drive outside Golden Bauhinia Square will be suspended from 4pm to 11.59pm.

All on-street metered and motorcycle parking spaces at Victoria Peak Garden and Mount Austin Road (Meter nos: 1515(A/B) to 1518(A/B), 1523(A/B) to 1526(A/B), 1519A, 1520A, 1521(A/B) and 1522B) will be suspended from 7pm to 11.59pm.

All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 3pm to 11.59pm:

- Man Kwong Street;

- Ying Sing Street;

- Lung Wo Road;

- Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office;

- Edinburgh Place;

- Lung Wui Road; and

- Lung Hop Street.

All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 4pm to 11.59pm:

- Hung Hing Road;

- Expo Drive;

- Expo Drive East;

- Convention Avenue;

- Wan Shing Street;

- Gloucester Road service road;

- Stewart Road between Jaffe Road and Gloucester Road service road;

- Marsh Road between Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road;

- Jaffe Road between Percival Street and Luard Road; and

- Lockhart Road between Percival Street and Luard Road.

All parking spaces at the following locations will be suspended from 7pm to 11.59pm:

- Watson Road; and

- Whitfield Road.

D. Suspension of Public Transport Interchange

The Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange and Man Yiu Street Public Transport Interchange will be suspended from 6.30pm to 11.59pm.

E. Suspension of car parks

Vehicles parked in car parks within the above closed areas at North Point, Wan Chai North, Wan Chai South and Central District will not be permitted to enter/leave the car parks during the road closure period.

If necessary, the vehicular entrance/exit along on westbound Gloucester Road between Paterson Street and Percival Street will be closed without prior notice.

Any vehicles found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.

Members of the public are advised to use public transport to access the above areas. They should pay attention to the latest special traffic arrangements announced by the Transport Department and the latest weather news released by the Hong Kong Observatory. Actual implementation of the crowd safety management measures and traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

If the cancellation of the fireworks display is announced by the organiser, the above-mentioned crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements will not be implemented.

Special traffic arrangements for National Day Fireworks Display on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Special traffic arrangements for National Day Fireworks Display on October 1 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Justice upheld in District Court's sentencing in a case of "conspiracy to publish seditious publication"

​Following the conviction of three defendants on August 29 in a case of "conspiracy to publish and/or reproduce seditious publication", the District Court handed down its sentence today (September 26).

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government spokesman said: "The court has held earlier that Chung Pui-kuen and Lam Shiu-tung, while holding chief editorial positions at Stand News, had knowledge and approved of the seditious intent of the articles, providing Stand News as a publishing platform for inciting hatred against the Central Authorities and the HKSAR Government, as well as hatred against the administration of justice."

The spokesman said, "The reasons for verdict by the Court have pointed out clearly that the ideology of Stand News was localism which excluded China, and that it even became a tool to smear and vilify the Central Authorities and the HKSAR Government during the movement of opposition to the proposed legislative amendments. The court found that the relevant articles, without any objective basis, attacked the relevant law and procedures; and relevant law enforcement and prosecutorial process; spread hatred and anti-government sentiment with disinformation; attacked law enforcement by the Police and glorified the behaviour of rioters - in other words, they were not based on facts. To distort acts of inciting hatred as "journalism" is a complete reversal of right and wrong."

"According to Schedule 3 of the Implementation Rules of Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has made an application to court for a confiscation order to confiscate the proceeds of the relevant crime. DoJ will continue to handle subsequent procedures in accordance with the law."

"The court stated in its reasons for sentence that at the time of the offence, the three defendants were not engaging themselves in genuine journalistic work but were participating in the so-called protest at the time. From the editorial of Stand News and News Stand, it is evident that they sided with the protesters against the Government. The crimes committed by the three defendants are very serious."

"The reasons for sentence also pointed out that, given Stand News had approximately 1,600,000 followers, the seditious articles involved have undoubtedly caused significant harm to both the Central Government and HKSAR Government as well as the residents, although it is difficult to quantify."

The spokesperson stated: "The reasons for sentence also indicated that, due to the severity of the offences, imprisonment is the only appropriate sentencing option. Regarding the length of the sentence, the maximum penalty is two years' imprisonment. This maximum penalty is completely disproportionate to the severity of the offences. According to the existing Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the maximum penalty for the crime of sedition is seven years' imprisonment. Based on the culpability of the second defendant, Chung Pui-kuen, a starting point of 23 months' imprisonment was adopted, and a sentence of 21 months was passed. For the third defendant, Lam Siu-tung, a starting point of 14 months' imprisonment was adopted but due to the potential risk to his life if sent to prison, a sentence was imposed that allows for his immediate release."

The spokesman says, "Following the verdict in this case, some have expressed concerns about freedom of the press and speech in Hong Kong. Some foreign media or other people with ulterior motives, as well as anti-China organisations and anti-China politicians, made untruthful and purely political remarks smearing the HKSAR. We have made clarifications and rebuttals many times to set the record straight. As demonstrated in the court's reasons for its verdict, Stand News completely disregarded objective facts and contravened the "special duties and responsibilities" which journalists must observe under international human rights conventions."

The spokesman pointed out that, "The Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights guarantee fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, procession and demonstration. Members of the public (including journalists) in Hong Kong are, as always, free to make comments or criticisms that are based on facts, and to enjoy and exercise freedoms of the press and of speech in accordance with the law, without fear of unwittingly violating the law."

"It is the constitutional duty of the HKSAR to safeguard national security. In this regard, the HKSAR Government will ensure that laws are observed and continue to enforce the law resolutely, decisively and rigorously with a view to effectively preventing, suppressing and imposing punishment for acts and activities endangering national security with all-out efforts."