400,000 likely to descend on TST
Special traffic arrangements will be enforced to cope with the record number of more than 400,000 people expected in Tsim Sha Tsui tomorrow.
Carmen Lo Ka-man, senior superintendent and Yau Tsim District deputy district commander, said the Avenue of the Stars and a better economy would attract more people to the waterfront to see the Christmas lights.
Ms Lo warned that there would be less space for spectators this Christmas Eve because the piazza outside the Cultural Centre had been cordoned off for construction.
'We advise people to go to other places in Tsim Sha Tsui if the crowd on waterfront reaches saturation point,' she said.
She said the same number of officers, about 1,000, would be deployed to control the crowd.
Closed circuit televisions would also be used.
She also warned against bringing cans of foam streamers and littering or defacing public property.
The Hunghom bypass will be closed at 5pm, while streets in the southern part of Tsim Sha Tsui will be cordoned off for pedestrians in phases starting at 6pm.
Car parks in cordoned-off sections will be closed at the same time.
Similar arrangements will be implemented on New Year's Eve, with the Hunghom bypass closing at 6.30pm.
Roads will be closed to vehicles from 7pm.
On Hong Kong Island, a queuing system will be implemented if Lan Kwai Fong become overcrowded on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
On New Year's Eve, roads surrounding the usual countdown favourite Times Square in Causeway Bay will be closed from 6pm in phases.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department said the MTR, KCR's East rail, Ma On Shan Rail, West Rail and Light Rail Routes 507, 614P, 615P, 705 and 706 would operate around the clock on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
