Police Prepare For Large Crowds On New Year's Eve

Police said they're anticipating the biggest New Year's Eve gatherings in years on Saturday after more Covid restrictions, including a limit on public gatherings, were lifted.

Officers said road closures will be implemented in Central, Wan Chai, the Peak, as well as the Kowloon harbourfront from Saturday afternoon until early Sunday morning.

The force also said more areas may be closed off depending on the actual situation, and urged people to take public transport.

An acting senior superintendent of traffic, Lau Tat-fai, said while some 267,000 people had gathered in Lan Kwai Fong and parts of Kowloon on Christmas Eve, he’s expecting even more revellers to converge on both sides of the harbour to ring in 2023.

Acting traffic superintendent Ho Kam-yee stressed the force stands ready to deal with the crowds.

"We have conducted risk assessments, and we would deploy sufficient manpower in accordance to the number of people in different areas. We'll also have road closures, so that we can maintain public safety, public order, so that the public can enjoy this festive season in a safe and orderly manner," he said.

He also called on members of the public to comply with the mask mandate and maintain personal hygiene.