Special traffic and transport arrangements for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 23) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on December 24 and 25 to facilitate the celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Road closures
Road closures and traffic diversions will be implemented in the vicinities of Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Cultural District in phases from 2pm onwards on December 24. The Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus, Star Ferry Bus Terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui and China Ferry Terminal Bus Terminus will be suspended from 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 11pm respectively on that day until the re-opening of closed roads for traffic. To facilitate the road closure arrangements, the bus and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the affected areas will be subject to diversion or suspension, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated accordingly.
Public transport services on December 24 will be adjusted as follows:
The service levels of MTR lines (except Airport Express and Disneyland Resort Line) will be strengthened gradually from 3pm;
MTR lines (except Airport Express, Disneyland Resort Line and East Rail Line section between Sheung Shui - Lok Ma Chau/Lo Wu)and Light Rail route nos. 505, 507, 610, 614P, 615P, 706 and 751will provide overnight services;
The operating hours of MTR bus route nos. 506, K51 and K54 will be extended;
Three special bus services (KMB route nos. N64P, N243 and N272) will be operated in the small hours on December 25. The service level and operating hours of 23 KMB routes in Kowloon and New Territories will be strengthened or extended;
The operating hours of four GMB routes in Kowloon and one GMB route in New Territories will be extended; and
Tram services will be extended to 1.30am on the following day and will also be strengthened subject to passenger demand.
Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System Services
The operating hours of the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator and Walkway System on December 24 and 25 will be extended to 1am on the following day.
For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) or its mobile application "HKeMobility". Passengers may also refer to the passenger notices displayed by the relevant public transport operators.
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".
Statistics on innovation activities for 2023
According to the statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities released today (December 23) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) of Hong Kong in 2023 amounted to $33,006 million, representing an increase of 10% when compared with the corresponding figure of 2022 ($30,138 million). The GERD as a ratio to the Gross Domestic Product in 2023 was 1.11%. Analysed by performing sector, the expenditure on research and development (R&D) activities performed in the business, higher education and government sectors amounted to $12,976 million, $18,328 million and $1,702 million respectively in 2023.
R&D activities refer to creative and systematic work undertaken so as to increase the stock of knowledge for devising new and improved products/processes/applications and to improve the existing products/processes/applications.
More detailed statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities, together with the concepts and methodology, are given in the report "Hong Kong Innovation Activities Statistics 2023". Users can browse and download this report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1110010&scode=580). The report presents the latest statistics on R&D activities in Hong Kong, with analyses on R&D activities performed in the business, higher education and government sectors. It also contains detailed statistics on innovation activities (including product and business process innovations) in the business sector.
Enquiries about the statistics on Hong Kong innovation activities can be directed to the Science and Technology Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 39037290 or email: stb1@censtatd.gov.hk).
