Due to the arrangement scheduled ferry services in the central harbour will be suspended between 7.20 pm and 9 pm while some will be rescheduled as early as 6 pm and some will not resume service until 9 pm. The Marine Department has published a Marine Department Notice No. 15 of 1997 to give full details of the special marine control measures. Mr Tsang recommended masters, owners and operators of vessels to get copies of the notice and read it. As general advice small vessels, particularly those with no decking, or small vessels of a length less than five metres should not proceed to or remain in the envisaged heavy traffic central harbour area in the evening of the fireworks display since such vessels were vulnerable to the wash from large vessels and were not easily detected by larger vessels, Mr Tsang said. A practical demonstration is recommended.
All children wear lifejackets at all times.
All list showing the names of all persons on board is a available for immediate use in emergency. The vessel has not be overloaded its licensed passenger capacity. Mr Tsang said that when underway in Victoria Harbour, all vessels should observe the regulations for preventing collisions at sea. In the evening of the fireworks display, the safe speed to proceed should not exceed five knots while a proper look-out must be maintained at all times, he said. During darkness, bright light interferes with keeping a proper look-out.