Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki highlighted the need to improve the one-lane two-way traffic arrangement at High Island Reservoir East Dam, as about 1,000 tourists visited the popular destination on National Day (Oct 1).
The remark was made after Chan inspected the area this morning. He noted that traffic was flowing smoothly, aided by the increased number of Special Route Minibus 9A, which had been expanded from four to 30 vehicles and was readily waiting for passengers.
However, Chan pointed out that some vehicles encountered head-on situations and became stuck along certain sections of the road leading to the East Dam, where one-lane two-way traffic is in place.
He described the situation as unsatisfactory and stated that authorities will work with the police to explore long-term solutions.
Meanwhile, he mentioned that police were on-site directing traffic, allowing vehicles from both directions to take turns passing through the road. It was estimated that the waiting time for vehicles in each direction was about 10 to 15 minutes.
The Civil Aid Service also set up support stations to address any emergencies that potentially arise due to the hot weather.
Chan stressed that inter-departmental discussions for the National Day operation began in mid-September, and expressed gratitude to various departments, minibus operators, and frontline staff for their cooperation.
He also praised visitors for their environmental awareness, noting that the East Dam can currently accommodate the existing number of visitors and that no significant damage has been caused.
Additionally, Chan noted that the authorities are installing more Wi-Fi devices to cater to mainland tourists who are accustomed to using electronic payments.
Police have also established a command center utilizing drones and cameras for real-time monitoring of overall operations.
