PSP reveals crowd control measures | Senado Square cleared during CNY if necessary

People may be barred from entering Senado Square as part of the Chinese New Year crowd management measures, according to an announcement made by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday.
The authorities have predicted that there will be large crowds in the Central district and Border Gate checkpoint vicinity between February 17 and 28. Apart from dispatching extra personnel to maintain public order, the PSP will implement crowd control measures at San Ma Lo (Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro), Senado Square, and Border Gate.
PSP has established three levels of crowd control at San Ma Lo and Senado Square, depending on the prevailing crowd situation. When the first level of crowd control is implemented, use of the three pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Avenida da Praia Grande and San Ma Lo outside the Bank of China and the Headquarters of BNU will be suspended.
If the overcrowding is not resolved, the authorities will apply the second level of crowd control measures, which, alongside the first level measures, includes enforcing one-way flow of pedestrians. People can only travel in a single direction in certain areas: sideways on San Ma Lo between Bank of China/BNU and the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau/ Senado Square, as well as on Avenida da Praia Grande between Hotel Metropole and Si Toi Commercial building.
When there is overcrowding at both San Ma Lo and Senado Square, the authorities will apply the third level of crowd control and impose partial or total closure of the vicinity of Senado Square and Rua da São Domingos, as well as several side streets in the area leading to the Cathedral and the Mercado de São Domingos Municipal Complex. Pedestrians will only be allowed to exit the area.
The authorities also detailed crowd management measures for the area near Ruins of St Paul’s, such as implementing the one-way flow of pedestrians. Travellers, residents and people with special needs will also be diverted into different queues outside the Border Gate checkpoint when the departure lounge begins to reach its maximum capacity. JPL