********************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Federick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (May 14):
Question:
At present, many old roads (e.g. those in the Mid-levels on Hong Kong Island and the rural areas in the New Territories, etc.) were built according to past design standards, and coupled with geographical constraints, the carriageways and pedestrian ways are winding and narrow, with certain road sections not even been provided with facilities such as pedestrian ways or railings separating pedestrians from carriageways. Some members of the public have pointed out that traffic accidents are prone to occur when using such roads. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it has assessed the above state in the Mid-levels on Hong Kong Island and the rural areas in the New Territories, etc.; if so, of the names of the roads in such a state and the assessment outcome, and whether it has studied the feasibility of improving and widening such roads; if such a study has been conducted, of the outcome; and if it is feasible to improve and widen such roads, whether the authorities have set a timetable for implementing the improvement works; if such a study has not been conducted, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
We have been keeping a close eye on the design and safety conditions of roads in Hong Kong. In conducting reviews on the existing roads, the Transport Department takes into consideration factors such as prevailing design standards, traffic demand, flow data, actual road conditions and environment, and views of the public; and formulate improvement works proposals or appropriate traffic management measures with a view to enhancing road safety. Examples of these measures include widening carriageways or footpaths, installing pedestrian railings, erecting traffic signs and road markings, adjusting traffic light systems or imposing pick-up and drop-off restrictions. In addition, to better meet the traffic demands of residents in the New Territories, the Home Affairs Department implements the Rural Public Works Programme (RPWP) to improve existing rural roads or provide access roads for vehicles and pedestrians. When planning for these works, the Department will take into consideration factors such as the needs of the local residents, the physical environment and technical feasibility.
In recent years, the Transport Department and Highways Department have put in place a number of improvement works on road sections with sharp bends or which are narrow in the Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. The major works completed in the past five years are listed in Annex.
As for RPWP, the Home Affairs Department carried out around 100 access road construction and improvement projects in various rural areas in the New Territories over the past five years. These projects include constructing smaller-scale vehicular accesses, upgrading footpaths, repaving dilapidated road surfaces, etc. to improve rural environment and road safety, and to provide greater convenience to residents.
Ends/Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:31
NNNN
