In this Aug 17, 2022 photo, Hong Kong residents select colorful lanterns at the Tai Kiu market in the city's Yuen Long district to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Sept 10 this year. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – Residents of Hong Kong have been asked not to burn wax or put lit candles on the ground, grass pitches or beaches, not to throw glow sticks or other objects onto trees, and not to fly sky lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In a statement on Friday, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) urged people to keep places clean during the celebration.

People littering at LCSD venues such as parks and beaches are liable to a penalty of HK$1,500, while the maximum penalty for burning wax, throwing objects onto trees or flying sky lanterns is a fine of HK$2,000 and 14 days' imprisonment, according to the statement.

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To reduce the chances of spreading the virus in the community, the department also urged people to comply with the regulations on the prohibition of group gatherings of more than the number of people as stipulated by the law, and observe the mask-wearing requirement in public places at the department's venues during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts to facilitate the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.

Repulse Bay

Depending on crowd and traffic conditions, traffic arrangements may be adjusted in Repulse Bay from Sept 10 to 12.

Public light buses may be barred from entering Beach Road from Repulse Bay Road; South Bay Road south of South Bay Paths will be closed if the car parks are full, except for residents’ vehicles and public transports; traffic along eastbound Repulse Bay Road cannot make a U-turn at its junction with South Bay Road; vehicles will be banned from waiting along Repulse Bay Road outside the car park if it is full; and traffic on Beach Road will be diverted to northbound South Bay Road to leave the area, except for residents’ vehicles, when the car parks on South Bay Road are full.

All metered and motorcycle parking spaces will be suspended on Island Road, except for parking spaces for the disabled; and all metered and motorcycle parking spaces on Beach Road from 4 pm on Sept 10 to 6 am on Sept 12.

Shek O

Sixteen parking spaces in Shek O Beach Public Car Park will be suspended from noon on Sept 10 to 3 am on Sept 11 and 9 am on Sept 11 to 3 am on Sept 12.

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Shek O Headland Road will be closed, except for public services and residents’ vehicles; and vehicles will be banned from entering the access roads to the car parks in Shek O at Big Wave Bay once they are full, except for public services and residents’ vehicles.

Stanley

Depending on crowd and traffic conditions, Stanley Beach Road and Wong Ma Kok Path may be closed from Sept 10 to 12 if the car parks are full, except for residents’ vehicles and public transports.

Causeway Bay

Six parking spaces in Hing Fat Street Public Car Park will be suspended from 4 pm to 11 pm on Sept 9 and 4 pm on Sept 10 to 00:30 am on Sept 11.

Tuen Mun

The roads which will be intermittently closed from 5 pm to 5 am the following day daily from Sept 9 to 12 are: Golden Beach Path; Tsing Yan Street between Castle Peak Road and the entrance of the public car park at Kadoorie Beach; and the access road leading to the public car park at Cafeteria Old Beach and the one leading to the public car park at Butterfly Beach.

Tsuen Wan

Tai Mo Shan Road east of its junction with Route Twisk will be closed from 5 pm to 3 am the following day daily from Sept 10 to 11, except for residents’ vehicles.

The car park of Tai Mo Shan Country Park will be suspended from 5 pm to 3 am the following day daily from Sept 10 to 11.

Ma On Shan

Depending on crowd and traffic conditions, the roads may be closed from 4:30 pm to 3 am the following day daily from Sept 10 to 11 except for residents’ vehicles are: Ma On Shan Tsuen Road south of its turnaround, Yiu Sha Road north of its junction with Wu Kai Sha Road roundabout, except for residents’ vehicles; and Yiu Sha Road junction with the unnamed road towards To Tau Wan Village direction.