Influx of holiday revellers may force early closure of waterfront, say police

Up to 400,000 people are expected to flock to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront to celebrate Christmas and New Year but the areas might reach maximum capacity well before midnight because of the fireworks displays and the light shows in Victoria Harbour, police have warned.

Yau Tsim district's deputy district commander, So Kam-sing, said that police expected a turnout similar to last year at the area near the clock tower and Cultural Centre. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve both fall on Sundays this year.

However, police said they expected an early first wave of revellers flocking to the area from around 6.30pm, well ahead of the 'Symphony of Lights' at 8pm. The laser lights show, which takes place every night on both sides of the harbour, will be enhanced with new fireworks displays from tomorrow to Christmas Day and again from December 30 to New Year's Day.

'We might need to stop people from getting into the area as early as 6.30pm if the area reaches a maximum capacity of 120,000,' assistant district operations officer Patrick Yeung Ming-sum said. 'The restrictions will be eased when some people leave after watching the light show - before we close the area again before midnight.'

Some 1,400 officers will be deployed for traffic and crowd control.

Roads will be closed and traffic re-routed on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The southern part of Nathan Road and Cameron, Hankow and Peking roads will be closed in stages from 5pm. Traffic towards the area will be diverted to Jordan, Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui East.

With a number of road works and construction projects under way in the area, police have urged the public to be careful and not to climb fences to get a better view.