Hong Kong will host the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) on 20-21 October at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the Transport Department has announced an extensive set of temporary traffic arrangements that begin as early as 10 am on Friday, 16 October. Convention Avenue, Lung King Street and adjoining feeder roads in Wan Chai North will be closed to general traffic and on-street parking until 11 pm on 22 October. Only accredited vehicles bearing an FMM pass will be allowed past police check-points. Taxis may set down and pick up at designated spots on Harbour Road, while 10 bus and minibus routes will be diverted to Fenwick Pier Street and Gloucester Road. The MTR will run additional staff at Wan Chai and Exhibition Centre stations but expects normal train frequencies. Corporate mobility managers should alert inbound delegates to use official hotel shuttles or MTR where possible, and advise local employees to avoid driving through the harbour-front business district. Deliveries to offices inside the security perimeter must be scheduled outside restricted hours or routed through loading bays on Fleming Road. Hoteliers anticipate average room rates to spike by 15 percent during the week as 300 foreign officials, 700 media representatives and hundreds of support staff converge on the area. Companies hosting side events are reminded that participants without APEC badges will undergo airport-style screening, and passport details must be submitted to Police no later than 48 hours before entry. Despite the disruption, event organisers view the high-profile meeting as a chance to showcase Hong Kong’s post-pandemic reopening. The Tourism Board has lined up harbour-front light shows and discounted Airport Express tickets aimed at the expected uptick in premium business travel.
