XN000022-1988-12-19 — Page 4

3.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1988

FESTIVE SEASON: RESIDENTS URGED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

MR

OF

THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, PAUL LEUNG, TODAY (MONDAY) APPEALED TO RESIDENTS TO MAKE GOOD USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO AVOID CONGESTION DURING THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON FESTIVE LIGHTINGS AND ACTIVITIES, MR LEUNG URGED RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH KLDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS OR YOUNG CHILDREN, TO EXERCISE CARE IN CONGESTED AREAS.

"PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT MOST PEOPLE VIEW THE LIGHTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND THAT TSIM SHA TSUI HAS BY FAR THE BIGGEST CROWDS, HE SAID.

*

MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT MOST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WOULD BE ON FOR SOME TIME, AND RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO ENJOY THEM AT THEIR LEISURE.

APART FROM THE CENTRES OF ATTRACTION IN TSIM SHA TSUI AND CENTRAL, THERE WERE ALSO CHRISTMAS LIGHTINGS AND NUMEROUS PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES IN OTHER DISTRICTS WHICH PEOPLE COULD ENJOY WITHOUT TRAVELLING TOO FAR FROM THEIR HOMES.

THE VARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING VARIETY SHOWS AND FESTIVAL CARNIVALS ORGANISED BY LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICES, WERE ALSO EXPECTED TO ATTRACT LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.

AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, A CHIEF TRANSPORT OFFICER, MR CHOY HON-LEUNG, ANNOUNCED THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WOULD BE EXTENDED DURING THE HOLIDAY PERIOD.

"MOST PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT, PEAK TRAM, TRAMS, BUSES AND FERRIES, WILL BE RUNNING EITHER ALL NIGHT OR WELL INTO THE EARLY MORNING BOTH ON DECEMBER 25 AND ON JANUARY 1," MR CHOY SAID.

SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS, SUCH AS PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT SCHEMES AND ROAD CLOSURES, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. ANNOUNCE DETAILS SHORTLY.

THE POLICE

WILL