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Following is a question by Hon Wong Ting-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 17):
Question:
With regard to the Shenzhen Bay Port ("SBP"), which was commissioned on July 1 this year, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that cross-boundary goods vehicles may, with effect from August 13, use SBP for crossing the boundary without the need to apply to the mainland authorities in advance for additional crossing endorsement, whether the authorities know that if such a measure will be implemented on a long-term basis;
(b) of the respective daily average numbers of private cars and goods vehicles using SBP for crossing the boundary since August 13, and the impact of the cross-boundary traffic volume on the traffic situation of Tuen Mun Road; and
(c) whether the authorities have conducted a review to identity room for improvement in the operation and facilities of SBP; if so, of the review results; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) To encourage cross-boundary goods vehicles to use the Shenzhen Bay Port (SBP), the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments have agreed that goods vehicles of cross boundary freight companies could use SBP without registration until the companies next renew their Mainland operating contracts, during which the Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province would grant them the additional endorsement to use SBP. This measure is not time-limited.
(b) The average volume of private car and goods vehicle traffic using SBP between the introduction of the above measure on August 13, 2007 and end September 2007 is as follows-
Number of Number of
private cars goods vehicles
Average Hong Kong 810 240
daily -bound
volume
Shenzhen 820 730
-bound
Volume Hong Kong 90 (per hour) 30 (per hour)
during -bound
peak (6pm-8pm)
hours*
Shenzhen 80 (per hour) 80 (per hour)
-bound
(12noon-2pm)
*The peak-hour traffic is derived from the result of a traffic survey conducted on August 23, 2007.
So far, only some of the vehicles using SBP go through Tuen Mun Road (TMR). The traffic volume along TMR has increased by about a few scores of vehicles per hour since the measure came into effect. The traffic impact on TMR is minimal and is even less during the off-peak hours. The Transport Department will continue to closely monitor the traffic condition along TMR after the commissioning of SBP.
(c) The operation of the Hong Kong Port Area has been smooth since the commissioning of SBP in July. The Hong Kong and the Shenzhen authorities meet regularly to discuss matters requiring attention and coordination of both sides in order to ensure the smooth operation of the new control point.
As regard the daily management of the Hong Kong Port Area, the frontline departments have established an inter-disciplinary building management committee to coordinate their operations and improvement works for the port facilities, including the provision of additional signage and traffic signs to give clearer direction to cross-boundary passengers and vehicles on public transport arrangement and immigration and customs procedures.
Ends/Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:10
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