TD Warns of Increased Traffic via HZMB; Advises Public to Plan Ahead for Inbound Vehicle Surge

TD urges public and motorists returning to Hong Kong to travel outside peak periods as far as possible

The Transport Department (TD) today (October 12) urged members of the public who drive their private cars to and from the Mainland/Macao to note that it is anticipated more inbound cross boundary vehicles will travel via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) tomorrow (October 13). Members of the public are advised to plan their journeys ahead and travel outside peak periods as far as possible in response to the inbound travel peak after Chung Yeung Festival.

The public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile application to access the snapshots of traffic conditions at the inbound and outbound vehicle plaza of HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check the real time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts (or visit traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/).

The TD has worked with relevant Mainland authorities and operators to formulate plans to strengthen services at various ports, including increasing the frequency of the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus), as well as arranging dedicated public transport lanes at the HZMB Port, Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Shenzhen Bay Port as necessary, with a view to ensuring smooth public transport operations. Subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port to facilitate public transport vehicles to enter the above control points smoothly. Motorists are advised to pay special attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road.

In addition, the TD has approached various public transport operators proactively to enhance the capacity, and reserve vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of visitors. Among them, the MTR will enhance train service of railway lines (including East Rail Line) until October 13, with a total of about 950 extra trips, so as to facilitate the travelling of local residents and visitors.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic and transport situation of various districts, boundary control points and major stations, and implement response measures where appropriate. Members of the public are advised to keep in view the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts and the TD's HKeMobility mobile application.

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business

Hong Kong Customs mounted a territory-wide enforcement operation codenamed "Magpie" between December 9 and yesterday (December 20) to combat illegal activities involving party room operators providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business.

Through intelligence analysis and with the assistance of copyright owners, Customs earlier identified a number of party rooms suspected of possessing and providing infringing karaoke songs to customers in the course of business. Customs officers then took enforcement action and raided 15 party rooms in various districts, including Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung, Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay. A total of 16 sets of karaoke devices used for playing suspected infringing songs, one set of game console with suspected pirated electronic games, and a batch of audio and video equipment were seized. The total estimated market value is approximately $400,000. Three men aged between 31 and 40, were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Copyright Ordinance. They were all persons-in-charge of the party rooms. The investigation is ongoing and further arrest may be made.

Customs reminds business operators to comply with the Copyright Ordinance and to make enquiries to copyright owners on matters relating to the use of musical visual recordings in the course of business.

Customs will continue to step up inspection and enforcement to vigorously combat different kinds of infringing activities to safeguard the rights of copyright owners.

Under the Ordinance, any person, who without the licence of the copyright owner of a copyright work, possesses infringing copies of a copyright work for the purpose of, or in the course of, any trade or business with the view to it being used by any person commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 per infringing copy and imprisonment for four years.

Members of the public may report any suspected infringing activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs combats provision of infringing karaoke songs by party rooms in course of business Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases