XN000022-1979-01-26 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1979

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AT SHA TIN FOR CHE KUNG FESTIVAL

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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN SHA TIN TO COPE WITH THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS EXPECTED TO VISIT THE CHE KUNG TEMPLE OVER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT OFFICER, SHA TIN, MR. GERRY HIGGINSON, UP TO 100,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE TEMPLE WITH AT LEAST HALF OF THEM ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE NEW YEAR WHEN THE FESTIVAL REACHES ITS PEAK.

HE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT WORKS TAKING PLACE IN THE AREA, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE WORKED OUT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE WORSHIPPERS,

+A ONE-WAY CIRCULATION SYSTEM WILL BE PROVIDED FOR PEDESTRIANS WHO WILL BE DIRECTED TO USE THE ACCESS TRACK FROM THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD EAST OF THE SHING MUN RIVER TO ENTER THE TEMPLE, MR. HIGGINSON EXPLAINED,

+THE PEDESTRIANS WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE TEMPLE BY USING THE FOOTBRIDGE LEADING TO TAI WAI VILLAGE, HE ADDED.

ONLY FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP ON THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD. PARKING FACILITIES WILL BE VERY LIMITED BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION WORKS GOING ON IN THE AREA.

THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY WILL ARRANGE ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICES FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE ROUTES TO MEET THE EXPECTED HEAVY DEMAND.

* NO. 70

* NO. 72

NO. 89

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FROM JORDAN ROAD TO SHEUNG SHUI VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD

FROM TAI PO MARKET TO TAI KOK TSUI FERRY VIA TAI WAI

FROM KWUN TONG (YUE MAN SQUARE) TO LEK YUEN ESTATE VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD

VISITORS TO THE TEMPLE ARE THEREFORE STRONGLY ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND, IN VIEW OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW, THEY ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO USE THE SUBWAY WHEN CROSSING THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD.

MR. HIGGINSON APPEALED TO ALL WORSHIPPERS TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS TO REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS AND WARNED HAWKERS THAT IT WOULD BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO SELL HYDROGEN-FILLED BALLOONS, WHICH WERE LIABLE TO EXPLODE, AROUND THE TEMPLE.

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