Huge crowds expected for New Year's Eve fireworks
Police are bracing for about 100,000 people to flock to the Victoria Harbour waterfront to watch the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display on Monday, they said on Thursday.
Police are bracing for about 100,000 people to flock to the Victoria Harbour waterfront to watch the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display on Monday, they said on Thursday.
To ease crowd movements, police will close several streets to vehicles in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Wan Chai at various times of the evening.
In Tsim Sha Tsui, the Hung Hom Bypass, Salisbury Road, Canton Road and other main roads will be closed to traffic from 7.30pm. The Star Ferry Terminus and Kowloon Park Drive will be closed off at 8pm.
To let the crowd disperse after the event, Granville, Mody and Kimberley roads in Tsim Sha Tsui will be closed from 11.30pm.
In West Kowloon, Austin Road West and the Nga Cheung Road flyover will be closed after 10.30pm.
On the Hong Kong Island side, Expo Drive in Wan Chai will be closed to traffic from 9pm. After the event, Convention Avenue will be closed from 11pm.
In Central, areas near the ferry piers will be closed to traffic from 6pm. Roads in Lan Kwai Fong will be shut down in stages from 6pm.
Roads will also be closed around Victoria Park and Times Square in Causeway Bay. Other roads may be closed for emergencies.
Police are urging members of the public to take public transport to these areas on Monday evening.
“[Most of the lines of] the MTR will be in service overnight, so the public should use the public transport system,” said Peter Ip, chief inspector of enforcement and control for Hong Kong Island traffic.
He appealed to the public not to drive after drinking or taking drugs.
