Kai Tak Sports Park large-scale events see thousands departing

As large-scale events at Kai Tak Sports Park continue - including the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens at the end of the month and several concerts featuring renowned singers and bands - large crowds of locals, mainlanders and foreigners are expected to attend.

To ensure that they can all leave the venue in a safe and orderly manner, police have developed crowd-management measures and optimized their strategies.

Ma Chung-ying, senior inspector of police from the operations, Kowloon East region, said in an interview with Sing Tao Probe that to enhance public safety and participant experience, police have introduced new crowd measures by referencing successful examples from other countries, including the installation of large display screens along the exit routes to the MTR stations showing relevant information.

As attendees leave the venue, police will play music along the routes to help ease the crowd's mood while they wait. Officers will be stationed on-site to provide real-time information, ensuring that everyone can exit safely and orderly.

Apart from that, they will also utilize innovative technology to introduce the "Easy Leave" platform, which analyzes real-time conditions at the venue with artificial intelligence and provides information on traffic and crowd density, allowing people to choose the most suitable exit options.

Ma noted that the Easy Leave platform is the city's first to utilize AI for real-time crowd data analysis, and it is aimed at reducing crowd congestion on-site while improving the convenience and efficiency of attendees' departures, thereby enhancing the overall experience.

Easy Leave provides information on the time required and crowd density for various exit routes, assisting attendees to choose the most suitable path according to their needs.

It also features a real-time information display that shows MTR schedules, special bus routes, drop-off and pick-up areas for private cars and taxis, as well as nearby parking locations.

This information allows the public to quickly grasp different traffic options, alleviating the pressure on public transport during large event departures. As attendees leave the venue, the police will play music along the route to help ease the crowd's mood while they wait. Officers will be stationed on-site to provide real-time information, ensuring that everyone can exit safely and orderly.

To assess the effectiveness of Easy Leave, reporters from Sing Tao Probe conducted a test after a large event at Kai Tak Sports Park. They departed from Kai Tak Stadium and split into two groups: one walked to the special bus and taxi station and Sung Wong Toi station exit D, taking about 11 to 13 minutes, which matched the platform's estimate. The other reporter went to Kai Tak Station exit D, where the platform indicated a travel time of 17 minutes. The test demonstrated that the platform is user-friendly and highly accurate.

Many attendees expressed their intention to use Easy Leave when leaving.

Ms Yau appreciated the platform for providing MTR schedules, while a child named Tung found it helpful for a quick exit home.

Quick Exit

Based on reporters' observations at the scene, here are four key tips to help attendees leave the venue more quickly:

? Adhere to the directions given by on-site personnel, including police officers, Civil Aid Service and sports park staff;

? Police will set up temporary elevated monitoring platforms to direct crowd movement, with announcements made along the way;

? Sung Wong Toi Road features designated stations for special buses and taxis, offering quicker and more direct routes to various districts compared to regular ones. Attendees should pay attention to updates from the Transport Department, bus companies, and the Kai Tak Sports Park;

? Stay updated with real-time information on crowd density and traffic via the Easy Leave platform. QR codes of Easy Leave will be available at various spots inside and outside the venue, making it easy for attendees to scan and access information on their phones.