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11.
Marine Police launches will line up to mark the two sterile areas.
Mr Tsang said that vessels intending to use either of the piers were required to wait at a designated gathering area for the direction from the Marine Department and the Marine Police to enter the sterile area from the east and depart from the west.
He added the two landing steps at the western end of Kowloon Public Pier would be closed to all vessels until 10 pm.
Should there be any postponement due to inclement weather conditions, the fireworks display will be held on February 9 (Sunday). In this case the closed area, restricted area and sterile areas will be effective during the same periods on February 9.
Because of the arrangement, scheduled ferry services in the central harbour will be suspended between 7.20 and 9 pm while some will be rescheduled as early as 6 pm and some will not resume service until 9 pm.
The Marine Department has published a Marine Department Notice No 15 of 1997 to give full details of the special marine control measures. Free copies of the notice are available from the Victoria Marine Office, third floor, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Hong Kong and also from Marine Department Homepage on the Internet. The address is http://www.info.gov.hk/mardep/index.htm.
Mr Tsang recommended masters, owners and operators of vessels to get copies of the notice and read it.
As general advice small vessels, particularly those with no decking, or small vessels of a length less than five metres should not proceed to or remain in the envisaged heavy traffic central harbour area in the evening of the fireworks display since such vessels were vulnerable to the wash from large vessels and were not easily detected by larger vessels, Mr Tsang said.
Before proceeding on the voyage, a master should make sure that:
All persons know where the life saving appliances are and know how to put on lifejackets properly. A practical demonstration is recommended.
All children wear lifejackets at all times.
All list showing the names of all persons on board is a available for immediate use in emergency.