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This is both a crisis management communication case and a case about the relationship between civil servants and local government in a fledgling democracy. Set in Hong Kong, the case describes the confluence of events which lead to what is viewed as the regions'' worst-ever traffic jam, one which keeps thousands from work, trapped for as long as eight hours. The case recounts how a series of decisions by separate agencies combine not to forestall but, arguably, to create the crisis. There is an implicit question of why those decisions were made and whether consultation with local officials-including those of Hong Kong''s locally- elected District Boards-might have made a difference. The narrative also focuses on public statements made by one transportation official which inadvertently serve to enflame the situation further-and whether the official should apologize for his statement.