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… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (December 23) published the December 2024 issue of its Quarterly Bulletin. This issue of Quarterly Bul… read more
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:
Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from December 24 (Tuesday) to December 25 (Wednesday) to facilitate the public to celebrate the festive season.
Hong Kong Island
———————
A. Crowd safety management measures
As a large number of people is expected, crowd management measures will be implemented in Lan Kwai Fong area. Please follow the Police’s instruction and queue patiently.
Members of the public are urged not to bring or discharge aerosol spray in the vicinity as it may be hazardous to people nearby. Members of the public are also reminded to look after the accompanying children and elderly.
B. Road closure
The following roads will be closed from 2pm on December 24 to 5am on December 25:
– 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 Terrance; and
– Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.
In order to facilitate the dispersal of worshippers from St. Joseph’s Church after the Christmas Eve Mass, the rightmost lane of Garden Road between Kennedy Road and Upper Albert Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic at anytime, depending on the crowd conditions.
C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces
All on-street parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 1pm on December 24 to 5am on December 25:
– Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;
– On Lan Street; and
– Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.
Kowloon
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A. Crowd safety management measures
Christmas Eve celebration is expected to attract a large number of people to the Tsim Sha Tsui area. Depending on the prevailing situation, Police will implement crowd safety management measures.
B. Road closure and traffic diversions
Phase I (from 6pm on December 24)
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 leading from eastbound Salisbury Road 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 near Xiqu Centre leading from westbound Austin Road West (at-grade section) to eastbound Austin Road West;
– The left lane of Austin Road West leading to Austin Road West roundabout;
– The slip road near The Harbourside leading from eastbound Austin Road West (at-grade section) 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 southbound Hung Hom Road will be directed from Hung Hom Bypass to Cheong Tung Road 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 must turn left to northbound Chatham Road South;
– Traffic along eastbound and westbound Austin Road West cannot enter the slip roads of Austin Road West; and
– Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road cannot turn to Museum Drive. Vehicles will be directed to eastbound Austin Road West or northbound Nga Cheung Road.
Phase II (from 6.30pm on December 24)
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 11.45pm on December 24)
Canton Road between Austin Road and Kowloon Park Drive will be closed. The following traffic diversions will be implemented:
– 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; and
– Traffic along northbound Gateway Boulevard must leave from northbound Kowloon Park Drive.
Contingency plan
If necessary, 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;
– Austin Road West roundabout between Austin Road West and the exit and Museum Drive;
– Nga Cheung Road between Jordan Road and Austin Road West;
– 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 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 to northbound Pilkem Street;
– Traffic along westbound Jordan Road heading to Nga Cheung Road will be diverted to Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange;
– Traffic along westbound Austin Road West must go straight to Nga Cheung Road elevated road;
– Traffic along southbound Nga Cheung Road entering Austin Road West roundabout must turn left to eastbound Austin Road West;
– Traffic along westbound Hung Luen Road must turn left to eastbound 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.
C. Suspension of bus termini
The following bus termini will be suspended until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:
The Tsim Sha Tsui East (Mody Road) Bus Terminus will be suspended from 5.30pm on December 24.
The Star Ferry Bus Terminus will be suspended from 6.30pm on December 24.
The China Hong Kong City Bus Terminus will be suspended from 11pm on December 24.
D. Suspension of car parks
All car parks within the above closed road area will be suspended 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.
In response to the Japanese Government’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene issued a Food Safety Order which prohibits all aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds originating from the 10 metropolis/prefectures, namely Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama, from being imported into and supplied in Hong Kong.
For other Japanese aquatic products, sea salt and seaweeds that are not prohibited from being imported into Hong Kong, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct comprehensive radiological tests to verify that the radiation levels of these products do not exceed the guideline levels before they are allowed to be supplied in the market.
As the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water is unprecedented and will continue for 30 years or more, the Government will closely monitor and step up the testing arrangements. Should anomalies be detected, the Government does not preclude further tightening the scope of the import ban.
From noon on December 20 to noon today (December 23), the CFS conducted tests on the radiological levels of 289 food samples imported from Japan, which were of the “aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt” category, in the past three days (including last Saturday and Sunday). No sample was found to have exceeded the safety limit. Details can be found on the CFS’s thematic website titled “Control Measures on Foods Imported from Japan” (www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fc_01_30_Nuclear_Event_and_Food_Safety.html).
In parallel, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has also tested 150 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All the samples passed the tests. Details can be found on the AFCD’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/Radiological_testing/Radiological_Test.html).
The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has also enhanced the environmental monitoring of the local waters. No anomaly has been detected so far. For details, please refer to the HKO’s website
(www.hko.gov.hk/en/radiation/monitoring/seawater.html).
From August 24, 2023, to noon today, the CFS and the AFCD have conducted tests on the radiological levels of 106 940 samples of food imported from Japan (including 69 392 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt) and 24 268 samples of local catch respectively. All the samples passed the tests. read more