I REFER to K. E. Madgwick's letter headlined, 'No notice' (Sunday Morning Post, September 10), complaining of 'no announcement' to forewarn motorists on the road closures for the Liberation Parade in Central, on August 28. To put the record straight, I would like to point out that the Police Public Relations Branch did issue press releases promptly on two occasions - one the day before and one early on the day in question to all local media to publicise the traffic arrangements in detail, including the closure of the eastbound Pedder Street underpass. On the day, traffic police officers assigned to the area had exercised utmost flexibility in an endeavour to lessen congestion. The road closures were not agreed to lightly. The parade of the scale experienced on August 28, was only held for the first time in the 50 years since the liberation of Hong Kong. The police will take heed of the correspondent's observation and will in any future similar operations, consider placing notice signs before the Connaught Road West flyover to warn motorists of the impending diversion and possible delays. B. Y. L. SMITH for Commissioner of Police I REFER to the letter headlined, 'No notice' (Sunday Morning Post, September 10). Special traffic arrangements were implemented in Central District on the morning of August 28 for the ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Hong Kong at the Cenotaph. The Pedder Street underpass and a section of Connaught Road Central were closed to traffic to facilitate the parade across Connaught Road Central to and from the Cenotaph. We kept road closure and traffic diversion to the minimum. To give advance notice to the public, we issued a press release to the print and electronic media. I regret that the message did not reach Mr Madgwick and the inconvenience he experienced. We will consider placing an advertisement on such traffic arrangements in future. HONSON YUEN for Commissioner for Transport
