Hong Kong’s transport operators and law-enforcement agencies are bracing for one of the busiest weekends since the border fully reopened last year. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTR) announced on 25 September that most heavy-rail lines and the Light Rail will run up to 90 minutes later on Friday night and into the early hours of Saturday and Sunday. The extra services are designed to clear the expected surge of moon-watchers heading home from Victoria Park, the Tai Hang fire-dragon dance and seafront lantern carnivals. Late trains are a familiar tactic during large festivals, but this is the first time since the pandemic that virtually the entire network—including the Tuen Ma, East Rail cross-boundary corridor and Airport Express—will operate past 2 a.m. Police have issued an extensive list of phased road closures across Causeway Bay, Pok Fu Lam and Repulse Bay as well as in the New Territories. More than 40 daytime franchised bus routes and 14 green-minibus services will be diverted or truncated. The Transport Department is urging motorists to check the HKeMobility app for live CCTV images of choke-points before setting out. For businesses, the enhanced services mean staff working late at hotels, restaurants and corporate events can rely on public transport rather than costly taxis. Employers are nonetheless advised to communicate alternative pick-up points in advance because several curb-side loading bays will be within pedestrianised zones. Corporate mobility managers should also remind expatriates that police will close certain roads without prior notice if crowds exceed safety thresholds; travellers heading to the airport for red-eye flights are advised to allow extra time or take the Airport Express from Hong Kong station before midnight when headways are still every 10 minutes.
Source: RTHK
