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    The Task Force on Emergency Transport Coordination presented its Report to the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, today (July 5). The full report was released simultaneously to the public and is accessible on the Environment Transport and Works Bureau's website at www.etwb.gov.hk.

    The task force examined the actions taken by the departments involved in the three incidents that brought about the abnormally serious congestion in Kowloon on May 9, 2005, and mapped out 56 recommendations regarding various aspects of emergency transport coordination.

    The Chairman of the Task Force, Ms Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, said, "Notwithstanding the best efforts made by different departments, the incidents have reflected some problems in the communication process and coordination work, both among different departments and also within departments. There are also inadequacies in the current emergency transport coordination framework.

    "There is a need to refine and align the crisis management arrangements, enhance communication and coordination both within and between departments, harness advanced technologies for better traffic management, and to take all possible steps to disseminate traffic information to the public in a timely manner," said Ms Cheng.

    "The departments involved have acknowledged that improvement to the existing arrangements are timely and necessary. This has streamlined the review process and ensured that the report is both fact-finding and forward-looking, with recommendations catering for both immediate and future implementation."

    A summary of the recommendations made by the task force and a list of immediate and short-term measures are attached at the Annex.

   The task force was appointed by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works in May 2005 after the serious congestion in Kowloon on May 9, 2005. It was tasked with reviewing and recommending measures to enhance the emergency transport coordination framework.

    Apart from Ms Cheng, two other members are Mr Herbert Hui Ho-ming, a senior corporate executive with extensive experience in public service and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors; and Professor Lo Hong-kam of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Ends/Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:10

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