Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Alfred Ma expects there will be no serious traffic congestion on Hong Kong Island during the opening of the WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Principal Transport Officer Albert Su said since more than 60% of schools on the Island will suspend classes on Tuesday and Western and Eastern Harbour Crossings will offer toll concessions during the conference, the chance of traffic chaos will be slim.

He said a closed area will be set up between December 12 and 19. From 3pm tomorrow, 29 bus routes will be diverted to stop at Gloucester Road outside/opposite Immigration Tower or at Hennessy Road near Stewart Road/Fleming Road.

Ferry services suspended

Ferry services from Wan Chai Ferry Pier to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom will be suspended from 1.56pm tomorrow.

The cross-boundary coach terminal that serves routes between Wan Chai and Huanggang will also be relocated to Central (Macau Ferry) Bus Terminal.

To make way for vehicular flow, over 300 parking spaces in Wan Chai and Tin Hau will be suspended.

Mr Ma urged the public to avoid travelling to affected or congested areas, especially Wan Chai North, unless really necessary and to watch for Government traffic updates.

For more details of the traffic arrangements during MC6, click here.

Agreement reached with protesters

About 3,200 protesters took part in a peaceful anti-WTO procession from Victoria Park to Central Government Offices this afternoon.

The protest, organised by the Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTO, is the first of three processions during the WTO's Sixth Ministerial Conference, or MC6.

The alliance earlier asked to erect tall temporary structures inside Victoria Park for its MC6-related public activities.

After negotiations with the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, the alliance finally agreed to take a number of measures to reduce the risk to a minimum.

The department stressed public safety is its prime consideration in considering requests to erect temporary structures in its venues.

It has been the department's established policy to require hirers of its venues for non-designated uses to take out third-party liability insurance and provide certification of structural safety to cover the erection of temporary structures.

Given the circumstances and the measures taken by the organiser, the department considered that the public safety angle has been addressed.

Sculptures may be approved

Regarding the sculptures the organiser intends to erect in the park, the department said the alliance has claimed the Danish sculptor has acquired a third-party liability insurance policy for the sculptures.

Upon verification of the scope of the insurance policy and certification of the structural stability of the sculptures, approval may be given for them to be erected, the department added.