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"Special permission will only be given to public transport vessels and those for the essential operation of the port. Applications from vessels for viewing the display will not be entertained."
Should there be any postponement due to inclement weather conditions, the fireworks display will be held on February 21. In this case the closed area and restricted area will be effective during the same periods on February 21.
Mr Tsang reminded all vessel masters that there were a lot of marine works in progress within Victoria Harbour and the Central Fairway had been re-positioned southward temporarily as promulgated in Notice to Mariners and Marine Department Notices.
He warned that as there were hazards to surface navigation within the works areas, vessels should not enter into these areas marked by yellow colour buoys with yellow flashing lights.
Mr Tsang also said when navigating through the central harbour, vessels should, as far as safe and practicable, use the principal fairways and keep to the right sides of the fairways.
Furthermore, vessels should avoid crossing the Central Fairway as it is expected the through traffic will be heavy.
For assisting landward crowd control, landing steps at Queen's Pier, Lung King Street steps, Wan Chai steps, Kowloon Public Pier and Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade will be closed to marine traffic from 7 pm to 9 pm and Hung Hom East steps from 7 pm to 8.30 pm.
As it was expected that all public landings close to the central harbour would be heavily used and congestion might occur. Mr Tsang urged vessels, if possible, to use landings in areas away from the central harbour.
The establishment of sterile areas at Queen's Pier and Kowloon Public Pier receptively from 8 pm to 9.30 pm will ensure safe navigation and orderly disembarkation of passengers after the fireworks display.
Physically marked by the deployment of Marine Police launches to line up offshore, the two sterile areas will include water areas fronting the piers and to a distance of about 70 metres offshore.
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