XN000022-1975-06-06 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1975

TRAFFIC-FREE ZONES TO BE INTRODUCED IN TSIM SHA TSUI

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TWO ROADS IN THE HEART OF TSIM SHA TSUI IN KOWLOON WILL SOON BE TURNED INTO A LEISURE-CUM-SHOPPING HAVEN FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF PEDESTRIANS AND TOURISTS.

THE PILOT SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO START NEXT MONTH IN HANOI ROAD AND CORNWALL AVENUE FOR A TRIAL PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AFTER WHICH IT MAY BE MADE PERMANENT, DEPENDING ON ITS SUCCESS.

THE TWO ROADS WILL TAKE ON A GARDEN LOOK WITH FLOWERS, BENCHES AND CONCRETE PUDDINGS LINING BOTH SIDES OF THE ROADS, TO PROVIDE ANOTHER PLEASANT SITTING OUT AREA IN THE DISTRICT.

GOODS

VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES SUCH AS FIRE ENGINES, POLICE CARS AND AMBULANCES. VEHICLES REQUIRING ACCESS TO SERVICE THE PREMISES FRONTING THE ROADS WILL, HOWEVER, BE ALLOWED ENTRY BETWEEN 7 P.M. AND 11 A.M.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE SCHEME WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THAT FOR CHATER ROAD IN CENTRAL DISTRICT, THE CLOSURE OF WHICH TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC" HOLIDAYS HAD PROVED VERY POPULAR WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE NEED O IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT IN BUILT-UP AREAS, AND THE PROVISION OF TRAFFIC-FREE STREETS WHERE PEOPLE COULD STROLL AND SHOP AT LEISURE AND IN SAFETY WOULD DO MUCH TO IMPROVE URBAN SURROUNDINGS.

HANOI ROAD AND CORNWALL AVENUE HAD BEEN CHOSEN AS THEY WERE NOT HEAVILY USED BY MOTORISTS. THE TWO ROADS ARE FRONTED MAINLY BY SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND CLOSING THEM OFF IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON TRAFFIC MOVEMENT IN THE AREA, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PEDESTRIAN PRECINCTS SHOULD PROVE FAVOURABLE WITH SHOPS SINCE PEDESTRIANS WOULD BE FREE TO CRISS- CROSS THE ROADS FROM SHOP TO SHOP INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BE CHANNELLED ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE ROADS ONLY.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH ILLUSTRATING THE PEDESTRIAN PRECINCTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ARE BOXED

FOR COLLECTION.

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