The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, arrived in Dongguan this afternoon (December 27) to attend the opening ceremony of the second HK Great Carnival. … read more
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers, the Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS), the Hong Kong Volunteers Association and the Peace and Development Foundation, today (December 27) launched a new round of the HYAB – United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme (formerly known as the United Nations Volunteers – Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme). Local undergraduate students are welcome to apply.
The Government attaches great importance to youth development. In the 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Executive emphasised that the Government would sustain its efforts in strengthening support for youth development. This includes continuing to implement various exchange and internship programmes on the Mainland and overseas to encourage young people to gain a deeper understanding of national development and global development trends. The HYAB – United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme provides local undergraduate students with valuable opportunities to undertake six-month volunteer internships in the overseas field units of various United Nations (UN) agencies. The interns will be able to develop their personal capacities and expand their horizons, as well as contribute to the international community as a Chinese youth volunteer. So far, 130 students have participated in the Programme. The selected university students for the Programme in 2024 undertook internships in various UN agencies located in Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal and Thailand, including the UN Development Programme, the UN Children’s Fund, and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. They participated in making contributions to various international fields and were greatly rewarded from the experience.
The new round of the Programme will offer a total of 20 internship placements in different UN agencies located in the Belt and Road region, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The volunteer internships will cover specific areas such as health and education, the environment and innovation management, and will run from July to December 2025. Applicants should be full-time undergraduate students of local universities. The HYAB will provide full funding, including round-trip air tickets and monthly living allowances, and offer suitable pre-departure training for participants in collaboration with the AVS.
​Details of the Programme are available at the designated webpage (www.avs.org.hk/eng/UNV). Interested young people should submit applications by noon on January 24, 2025. read more
With regard to the New Year’s Eve countdown celebration to be held by the Hong Kong Tourism Board on December 31, the Marine Department (MD) will implement marine traffic control measures and step up inspections of spectator vessels on the event day to ensure that safety requirements are met.
Closed areas will be established in two stages on the event day in the waters where barges for the fireworks display will be anchored. All vessels will be prohibited from entering these closed areas. The closed area in the waters off the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will be established from 12.30pm on the event day to about 3am on the following day (January 1), while the closed area in the waters off the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui will be established from 11pm to about 1am on the following day. A restricted area will be established in the Central Harbour from 11pm to about 1am on the following day. Only authorised vessels will be allowed to enter. Scheduled ferry vessels with permission may continue services until 11.40pm.
Spectator vessels can stay inside the specified area, other than the restricted area and the closed area, for viewing from 10pm to 1am on the following day. To enhance maritime safety during a major event at sea, coxswains of spectator vessels in a specified area during a specified period must ensure children on board are accompanied by an adult and wear a lifejacket at all times. Coxswains must also keep a passenger and crew list on board for emergency purposes. The MD will step up vessel inspections. If any vessel fails to meet these requirements, the department will initiate prosecution.
In addition, to ensure vessels disperse in an orderly manner, the Eastern and Western Cordon Lines of the restricted area will be lifted in stages after the event. The Western Cordon Line will be lifted first at about 1am on January 1. Spectator vessels behind the Western Cordon Line and those wishing to move to the east must follow the instructions of officers from the MD and the Police at the scene. The Eastern Cordon Line will be lifted later depending on traffic conditions in Victoria Harbour. It is anticipated that the restricted area designation will be lifted by about 1.15am on January 1.
For landside crowd control, the public landing steps Nos. 4 and 5 at Kowloon Public Pier will be closed temporarily from 8pm on the event day to about 1am on the following day. The other landing steps of Kowloon Public Pier will be closed temporarily from 10pm on the event day to about 1am on the following day, while other public landing steps within the restricted area will be closed temporarily from 10.30pm on the event day to about 1am on the following day. Buffer zones at Kowloon Public Pier, Kwun Tong Public Pier and Central Piers 9 and 10 will be established immediately after the event for safe and orderly disembarkation of passengers.
Officers from the MD and the Police will also maintain order at major landing facilities after the event. Coxswains and crew members should remind passengers to pack their personal belongings early before the vessels arrive alongside the landing steps, as well as assisting passengers to disembark. Coxswains and passengers should follow the guidance of the MD and the Police at the scene.
The MD and the Marine Police will also strengthen law enforcement, especially on the condition of life-saving appliances, speeding and overloading. Coxswains and persons-in-charge of vessels should check again and reconfirm that the operating licence, the certificate of survey and the third-party risk insurance are valid before setting sail.
MD Notice No. 240 of 2024 on the marine traffic control and safety measures has been issued and is available for viewing on the MD’s website (www.mardep.gov.hk). read more
Police will implement special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) to January 1, 2025 (Wednesday) to facilitate the New Year celebration.
Hong Kong Island
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(1) Fireworks display
A. Road closure
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 7pm on December 31.
The following roads will be closed from 9.30pm on December 31:
Central District
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– Man Kwong Street;
– Man Fai Street;
– Man Yiu Street between Man Kwong Street and Man Po Street; and
– Unnamed Road near Lung Wo Road outside General Post Office metered parking spaces.
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
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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 East and Harbour Road;
– Northbound Tonnochy Road between 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;
– Hung Hing Road;
– Hung Hing Road flyover;
– Wan Shing Street; and
– Wan Ying Street.
The following roads will be closed from 10.45pm on December 31:
Central District
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– Yiu Sing Street;
– Lung Wo Road between Man Yiu Street and Lung Hop Street;
– 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
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– Tonnochy Road flyover;
– Northbound Tonnochy Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;
– Harbour Drive;
– Westbound Harbour Road;
– Northbound Fleming Road between Gloucester Road and Harbour Road;
– Fenwick Pier Street flyover;
– Westbound Fenwick Pier Street; and
– Fenwick Street between Harbour Road and Gloucester Road.
Eastern District
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– Watson Road;
– King Ming Road;
– Hing Fat Street northward of Whitfield Road;
– The access road leading from eastbound Victoria Park Road to Causeway Bay Promenade;
– Whitfield Road; and
– Electric Road between Watson Road and Gordon Road.
The following roads will be closed from 11.55pm on December 31:
Eastern District (except for franchised buses)
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– Westbound Island Eastern Corridor (IEC) between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street;
– The slip roads leading from Healthy Street Central and Tong Shui Road to westbound IEC; and
– The entrance of westbound Central – Wan Chai Bypass Tunnel from IEC.
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
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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 Hennessy Road;
– O’Brien Road;
– Fleming Road between Jaffe Road and Hennessy Road;
– Stewart Road between Gloucester Road and Hennessy 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; and
– Canal Road East between Gloucester Road and Hennessy Road.
B. Traffic diversions
In connection with the road closure as mentioned above, the following traffic diversions will be implemented on December 31:
From 9.30pm:
Rumsey Street between Chung Kong Road and Connaught Road Central will be re-routed to one-way southbound.
From 11.55pm:
– Traffic along westbound IEC will be diverted via Man Hong Street;
– Traffic along slip road of Tong Shui Road heading for westbound IEC will be diverted via Wharf Road; and
– Traffic along eastbound Connaught Road West flyover will be diverted via Finance Street.
C. Suspension of parking spaces
The following parking spaces will be suspended:
All on-street parking spaces, metered parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces within the above closed areas in Wan Chai and Central District will be suspended from 4pm on December 31 to 1.30am of the following day.
All on-street parking spaces, metered parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces within the above closed areas in Eastern District will be suspended from 10pm on December 31 to 1.30am of the following day.
D. Suspension of bus terminus and public transport interchange
Exhibition Centre Station Public Transport Interchange and Central Ferry Piers Bus Terminus will be suspended from 8.30pm on December 31 to 1.30am of the following day.
Causeway Bay (Whitfield Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 10pm on December 31 to 1.30am of the following day.
E. Suspension of car parks
Vehicles parked in car parks within the above closed areas in North Point, Wan Chai and Central District will not be permitted to enter or leave during the road closure period.
If necessary, the car parks on westbound Gloucester Road between Paterson Street and Percival Street will be closed without prior notice.
(2) New Year countdown in Lan Kwai Fong
A. Road closure
The following roads will be closed from 2pm on December 31 to 5am of the following day:
– D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;
– Lan Kwai Fong;
– Wing Wah Lane;
– Wo On Lane;
– Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and
– On Lan Street.
Depending on the crowd situation, the following roads may be closed:
– Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;
– D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;
– Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;
– Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;
– Lyndhurst Terrace; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.
B. Suspension of parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces, metered parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces within the above closed areas will be suspended from 1pm on December 31 to 5am of the following day.
(3) Midnight Mass at St. Joseph’s Church
In order to facilitate the dispersal of worshippers from St. Joseph’s Church after the Midnight Mass, the rightmost lane of Garden Road between Kennedy Road and Upper Albert Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic anytime.
Kowloon
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A. Road closure and traffic diversions
Phase I (from 6pm on December 31)
The following roads will be closed:
– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Hung Hom Road;
– Hung Hom Bypass between Salisbury Road and Metropolis Drive;
– Southbound Salisbury Road between Hong Chong Road and Hung Hom Bypass;
– Salisbury Road and Salisbury Road Underpass between Science Museum Road and Kowloon Park Drive;
– The U-turn slip road of eastbound Salisbury Road leading 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);
– 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;
– 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;
– Peking Road;
– The slip road of westbound Austin Road West at-grade leading to eastbound Austin Road West near Xiqu Centre;
– The left lane of westbound Austin Road West leading to Austin Road West roundabout; and
– The slip road of eastbound Austin Road West at-grade leading to Austin Road West westbound near The Harbourside.
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, while 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;
– Traffic along eastbound Granville Road near Chatham Road South must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South; and
– Traffic along Austin Road West cannot enter the slip roads of Austin Road West.
Phase II (from 6.30pm on December 31)
The following roads will be closed:
– Northbound Kowloon Park Drive between Canton Road and Salisbury Road; and
– Salisbury Road between Canton Road and Kowloon Park Drive.
Phase III (from 8pm on December 31)
Museum Drive and Cultural Drive will be closed. The following traffic diversions will be implemented:
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 11.45pm on December 31)
The following roads will be closed:
– 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;
– Canton Road between Austin Road and Kowloon Park Drive;
– Austin Road West roundabout between Austin Road West and Museum Drive; and
– 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 enter 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 heading to Nga Cheung Road will be directed to Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange;
– 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
The Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 5.30pm on December 31.
The Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6.30pm on December 31.
The China Hong Kong City Bus Terminus will be suspended from 11pm on December 31.
C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces within the above closed road area in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom will be suspended from noon on December 31 to 3am of the following day.
D. Suspension of car parks
Vehicles parked in car parks within the above closed areas in Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon Cultural District will not be permitted to enter or leave from about 6pm on December 31, until the road closure is lifted.
All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.
Actual implementation of 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.
The Transport Department (TD) today (December 27) reminded the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented on New Year’s Eve (December 31) to facilitate the fireworks display at Victoria Harbour and related holiday celebration activities.
Road closures
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Road closures and the corresponding traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from 2pm that day in road sections in the vicinities of Central District, Wan Chai and Eastern District on Hong Kong Island. The section of Island Eastern Corridor westbound between Victoria Park Road and Man Hong Street will also be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic (except for franchised buses) from 11.55pm until the reopening of roads.
In Kowloon, road closures and the corresponding traffic diversions will be implemented in phases from about 6pm in the vicinities of Tsim Sha Tsui and the West Kowloon Cultural District until the roads reopen.
During the road closure period, taxi stands (including taxi pick-up/drop-off points), public light bus stands and roadside parking spaces on the roads affected will be suspended.
Public transport service arrangements
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(i) In connection with road closures, the bus and green minibus (GMB) routes operating in the affected areas will be temporarily diverted or suspended, and the associated bus and GMB stops located within the affected areas will be suspended or relocated;
(ii) The following MTR service enhancements will be implemented on that day: