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Following is a question by the Hon Bernard Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, in the Legislative Council today (June 26):
Question : Regarding the designation of pedestrian precincts, will the Government inform this Council :
(a) of its preliminary assessment of the proposal to convert a one kilometre section along Des Voeux Road Central into a car-free pedestrian precinct, jointly submitted by the Institute of Planners and the Chartered Institute of Transport in Hong Kong recently;
(b) whether it will consider designating more existing roads as pedestrian precincts; if so, of the roads being considered; and
(c) of the difficulties that it may have to overcome in order to make such designations?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Administration welcomes any proposal which aims at improving the pedestrian environment. In this regard, the Transport Department is studying the feasibility of introducing more pedestrian schemes in the Central District, including Des Voeux Road Central. The Department will take into account the proposal from the Institute of Planners and the Chartered Institute of Transport in developing possible schemes for Central.
In addition to the study on Central District, the Transport Department is also conducting similar studies for Wan Chai, Jordan and Sham Shui Po. The studies are scheduled to be completed in early 2001. Furthermore, implementation of pedestrian schemes for Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok has already commenced in phases since April this year.
Before designating a street into a pedestrianised street, the following major issues need to be addressed -
(a) the impact of pedestrianisation on traffic circulation in the area and the availability of traffic and public transport diversion routes;
(b) the traffic impact on the alternative routes to which traffic would be diverted;
(c) the impact of pedestrianisation on the need to access and service of the residential, commercial, and retail developments along the streets to be closed, and the availability of alternative arrangements; and
(d) public acceptance of pedestrianisation, including the residents, the transport trades and commercial operators affected by the scheme.
End/Monday, June 26, 2000
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