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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow (in the absence of the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works), at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 8):
Question:
Regarding the consultancy study on the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) scheme commissioned by the Government to update the transport model developed earlier, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it will make public the brief to the consultant concerned so that the public may scrutinise whether the study conforms to the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance or the guidelines in Technical Circular No. 1/04 of August 19, 2004 issued by the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau and the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau;
(b) of the details of any instructions relating to the proposed construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) in the brief;
(c) whether it has instructed the consultant to present ERP models that are capable of reducing the existing volume of traffic in the Central to Causeway Bay corridor without the need for constructing CWB;
(d) whether it has given the consultant any instructions relating to toll free usage of the roads concerned when there is through traffic;
(e) whether it has given the consultant any instructions relating to the income generated by the ERP scheme;
(f) whether it has instructed the consultant to conduct public consultation (as required by the Technical Circular) on the use of the revenue generated by the ERP scheme for improving public transportation, reducing pollution from public transportation and reducing other vehicle-based taxes; if it has, of the details of the public consultation; if it has not, of the reasons for that; and
(g) whether it has instructed the consultant to compare the costs of the construction of the proposed CWB with those of the development of an ERP scheme which does not impose a toll when there is through traffic?
Reply :
Madam President,
The purpose of the Congestion Charging Transport Model - Feasibility Study commissioned by the Transport Department is to collect transport data for the development of a Congestion Charging Transport Model to replace the outdated model developed in the previous Electronic Road Pricing Feasibility Study, and to apply the new Model to assess the impacts of different congestion charging scenarios in relieving traffic congestion.
Under the Study, the consultant is required to study all relevant aspects of congestion charging, such as the charging areas, charging methods, the need for and availability of any alternative routes, impacts of charging on the traffic conditions of the nearby road networks etc. We have not given any specific instructions relating to the proposed construction of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass or the toll-free usage of concerned roads when there is through traffic. The consultant is free to examine any congestion charging scenarios.
The consultant is also required to carry out a broad assessment of the financial and economic aspects of the potential congestion charging scenarios. As the Study focuses on the development of a Congestion Charging Transport Model, we have not asked the consultant to compare the cost of developing a congestion charging scenario with that of any road projects.
The Technical Circular No. 1/04 sets out the requirements of the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance and provides guidance for public officers and public bodies to follow in considering and approving reclamation proposals. As the aforesaid Study aims to develop a transport model to facilitate the assessment of the impacts of different congestion charging scenarios, it does not come under the purview of the Circular. Nevertheless, we have deposited a copy of the Study brief at the Legislative Council Secretariat for Members' reference.
The revenue generated by a congestion charging scheme will form part of the General Revenue of the Administration, and its use will be considered in the overall context of the Administration's resource allocation where views from the public will be taken into account. We recognize that community consensus would be crucial for such a charging scheme. We will consult the public before any decision is made.
Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:18
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