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LCQ9: Provision of lifts and escalators in public areas
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    Following is a question by the Hon James To and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (July 2):

Question:

    Regarding the provision of lifts and escalators by the Government in public areas, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)  of the total number of Government-managed footbridges and pedestrian subways which had been retrofitted with lifts or escalators in the past three years, together with the information on the locations and commencement/completion dates of each of these projects, broken down by the facility provided; and whether it has any plan to provide such facilities at other Government-managed footbridges and subways; if it has, of the information on the above items for each of these projects, broken down by the facility to be provided;

(b)  given that it has recently been reported that there are members of the public criticizing that the provision of lifts by the Government at a footbridge at Shelter Street in Causeway Bay, where the pedestrian flow is low, is a waste of public money, but the Highways Department has explained that the project aims at providing barrier-free access for the public; yet the Government refused to provide lifts on Waterloo Road Hill in 2006 on the ground that the estimated daily usage of such lifts in terms of pedestrian flow was low, whether the Government has any plan to draw up new criteria for providing lifts or escalators in public areas; if it has, of such criteria; if not, whether it will review the existing criteria;

(c)  given that some residents of Whampoa area have relayed to me that the Government, despite its earlier announcement to provide lifts at two footbridges in Tsim Sha Tsui East, had refused to provide lifts at the section of the footbridge at Hung Hom Road opposite Whampoa Garden on the ground of inadequate resources, whether the Government will consider allocating additional resources to expedite the provision of such lifts, so as to accelerate the progress of providing barrier-free access; and

(d)  given that the Government will conduct several surveys on mitigation of traffic noise, and will draw up plans and timetables for the projects concerned, whether the Government will make similar arrangements for handling the projects of the provision of lifts and escalators in public areas, in order to facilitate the public in monitoring the work of the Government in providing barrier-free access?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a)  During the period from June 2005 to June 2008, the Government retrofitted 15 public footbridges with elevators to provide barrier-free access.  Details are at Annex 1. The Government is planning to retrofit other footbridges and pedestrian subways not accessible by persons with disabilities (PwDs) with elevators or ramps. The Highways Department (HyD) is planning for the retrofitting works for six of such footbridges. It is also studying the feasibility of such works for another 28 footbridges and 18 pedestrian subways. Details are at Annex 2. 

(b)  As mentioned in (a), the Government will look at the feasibility for providing barrier-free access for the existing footbridges and pedestrian subways not equipped with such access.  The footbridge at Shelter Street, Causeway Bay, which has not been equipped with access facilities for PwDs, was retrofitted after a study in order to fulfill the requirement of barrier-free access.

    The proposed provision of elevators on Waterloo Road Hill involves the construction of an elevator system for an uphill area, which differs from the above retrofitting of access facilities for PwDs on footbridges and pedestrian subways. The Government will take into account the seven criteria presented to the Legislative Council Panel on Transport in 2002 in considering whether or not an escalator link/elevator system should be provided for an uphill area. As the proposal does not fulfill the principles, the Administration currently has no plan to construct an elevator system there. The seven criteria is at Annex 3.

(c)  The footbridge at Hung Hom Road near Whampoa Garden is already equipped with ramps accessible by PwDs. It therefore does not require the installation of elevators. The issue of resources is irrelevant here.

(d)  As regards the provision of barrier-free access to footbridges and pedestrian subways not equipped with access facilities for PwDs, as set out in (a), HyD is planning for the retrofitting works for six footbridges and is studying the feasibility of such works for another 28 footbridges and 18 pedestrian subways.  HyD will consult the relevant District Councils and PwD groups on the results of the study.  Once the retrofitting timetable is finalised, we will seek funds to implement the works.

Ends/Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:11

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