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The Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) of the Transport Advisory Committee received a total of 5,443 complaints and suggestions from July 1 to September 30, 2007. Among these, 45 were pure suggestions. The total number of cases represents an increase of 10.1% as compared with 4,943 cases in the previous quarter but a slight decrease of 0.7% when compared with 5,481 cases in the same quarter of 2006.
The complaints and suggestions were mostly related to public transport services (78%), enforcement matters (13%) and traffic conditions (6%). The number of cases on public transport services increased by 14.5% from 3,707 in the previous quarter to 4,245 in this quarter. Complaints and suggestions on traffic conditions decreased slightly from 311 in the last quarter to 308 in this quarter.
Cases about road maintenance dropped from 100 in the last quarter to 90 in this quarter. The number of complaints about illegal parking and other enforcement matters also decreased from 743 to 727.
All the complaints and suggestions received by the TCU in the quarter were referred to the relevant authorities and government departments for follow-up action.
During the period under review, investigations into 5,650 cases were completed. Of these, 4,000 cases (71%) were found to be substantiated, 365 cases (6%) were unsubstantiated, and the remaining 1,285 cases (23%) were not pursuable due to lack of information.
For the substantiated cases, the relevant government departments or public transport operators have either taken steps to rectify the situation or are considering possible solutions to the problems identified.
During the quarter, the relevant government departments and organisations took on board 38 suggestions made by the public to enhance public transport services and improve traffic conditions. A summary of the cases where public suggestions have helped to bring about improvements is at the Appendix.
Members of the public may make suggestions or complaints to the TCU by dialling the hotline 2889 9999 (voicemail service after office hours), by fax to 2577 1858, by e-mail to info@tcu.gov.hk or by filling in a complaint form downloaded from the TCU website (www.info.gov.hk/tcu).
Appendix
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Public suggestions taken on board by relevant authorities
(July - September 2007)
I. Public Transport Services
* Remove railings at Kwai Shing Central Bus Terminus to facilitate passengers.
* Add more seats at the platform of MTR Sunny Bay Station to facilitate passengers.
II. Traffic Management
Hong Kong Island
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at Man Yiu Street to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at Heard Street to deter illegal parking.
* Add traffic signs at Kennedy Road to remind motorists to slow down.
* Add a barrier at Tai Tam Road to deter illegal parking.
* Install railings at Gloucester Road to deter illegal parking.
Kowloon
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at the following locations to alleviate traffic congestion : Sai Yee Street, Wang Chiu Road, Sheung Yuet Road, Tat Chee Avenue and Sai Yeung Choi Street.
* Synchronise traffic lights at Argyle Street to improve traffic flow.
* Add secondary traffic lights at Nam Cheong Street to avoid confusion to motorists.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at the following locations to prevent vehicle obstruction : Sung On Street, Ma Tau Kok Road and How Ming Street.
* Extend "No Stopping Restriction" at Fortune Street to deter illegal parking.
* Add a double white line at Princess Margaret Road to regulate lane-cutting activities.
* Add a double white line at Sheung Shing Street to improve road safety.
* Shorten a double white line at Hoi Yuen Road to improve traffic flow.
* Add a "Turn Left Only" traffic sign at Hoi Yuen Road to improve road safety.
* Erect additional traffic signs at Trademart Drive to remind drivers of the stopping ban for goods vehicles.
* Erect additional traffic signs at Nam Cheong Station Public Transport Interchange to remind motorists of the prohibition of entry for vehicles other than buses, public light buses and taxis.
* Add a yellow box at Prince Edward Road West to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Relocate a GMB stop at Fung Tak Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Relocate and add parking spaces for motorcycles at Fortune Street to improve road safety and facilitate motorcyclists respectively.
* Convert parking spaces to a loading bay at Ha Heung Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Widen the pavement at Fa Po Street to improve road safety.
* Lay low noise surfacing material on Lung Cheung Road to reduce traffic noise.
* Reduce the size of a concrete island at Kimberley Street to facilitate motorcyclists.
New Territories
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at Tai Po Road and Fairview Park Boulevard to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Increase the pedestrian green time of traffic light at Tin Shui Road to facilitate pedestrians.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at On Shun Street to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add a "No U-turn" traffic sign at Shun Tung Road to remind motorists.
* Convert a "Turn Left" arrow road marking to a "Turn Left or Right" one at King Ling Road to improve traffic flow.
* Prohibit entry of vehicles of length over 8m into Tai Mo Shan Road to improve road safety.
* Add parking spaces for motorcycles at Fui Yiu Kok Street to facilitate motorcyclists.
Ends/Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:02
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