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The Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) of the Transport Advisory Committee received 5,066 complaints and suggestions from April 1 to June 30, 2008. Among these, 45 were pure suggestions. The total number of cases represents an increase of 19.7% as compared with 4,233 cases in the previous quarter, and an increase of 2.5% when compared with 4,943 cases in the same quarter of 2007.
The complaints and suggestions were mostly related to public transport services (77%), enforcement matters (15%) and traffic conditions (5%).
The number of cases on public transport services increased by 17.7%, from 3,335 in the previous quarter to 3,924 in this quarter. Complaints and suggestions on traffic conditions increased from 232 in the last quarter to 256 in this quarter. Cases about road maintenance increased slightly from 67 in the last quarter to 69 in this quarter. The number of complaints about illegal parking and other enforcement matters increased from 546 to 733.
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 4,978 cases were completed. Of these, 3,622 cases (73%) were found to be substantiated, 361 cases (7%) were unsubstantiated, and the remaining 995 cases (20%) were not pursuable due to lack of information.
For the substantiated cases, the relevant government departments and 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 71 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 (voice mail 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
Public Suggestions Taken on Board by Relevant Authorities
(April – June 2008)
I. Public Transport Services
Hong Kong Island
* Add a bus stop at Pok Fu Lam Road to meet the demand of passengers.
Kowloon
* Install railings at a bus stop at Nathan Road to facilitate passengers.
* Swap the termini of two bus routes at Fu Shan and Choi Hung to facilitate passengers.
New Territories
* Add a passenger shelter at a bus stop at Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road to facilitate passengers.
II. Traffic Management
Hong Kong Island
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at the following locations to alleviate traffic congestion: Wing Hing Street, Man Yiu Street, Old Bailey Street, Des Voeux Road Central, Siu Sai Wan Road, Conduit Road, Repulse Bay Road, Centre Street, Kennedy Road and Hennessy Road.
* Increase the pedestrian green time at King's Road to facilitate pedestrians.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at Oil Street to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add a traffic sign at Babington Path to remind pedestrians to beware of traffic.
* Add a "Keep Clear" road marking at Lockhart Road to deter vehicle obstruction.
* Add a road marking at Victoria Road to remind pedestrians to beware of traffic.
* Add a "Give Way" road marking at the exit from Queen Mary Hospital to Pok Fu Lam Road to remind motorists to slow down.
* Add road markings at Victoria Park Road to guide motorists to the proper traffic lanes.
* Add destination and lane markings at Connaught Road West to guide motorists.
* Add double white lines at Connaught Road West to regulate lane-cutting activities.
* Narrow down the approach carriageway into Shell Street at its junction with King's Road to improve the sightline of motorists and pedestrians.
* Install railings at Tin Wan Praya Road to deter illegal parking on pavement.
* Delete a parking space, and install pavement and railings at Lau Sin Street to facilitate pedestrians and improve road safety.
* Extend the bus bay at the portal of Aberdeen Tunnel to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Delete a parking space at Ventris Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add parking spaces for coaches at Tin Wan Hill Road to facilitate coach drivers.
Kowloon
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at Jordan Road and Lam Hing Street to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Enlarge the signal heads of traffic lights at Mongkok Road to facilitate motorists.
* Add a signalised pedestrian crossing at San Shan Road to facilitate pedestrians.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at the following locations to prevent vehicle obstruction : Wan Hoi Street, Wang Kwong Road, Reclamation Street, Luk Hop Street and Sai Chuen Road.
* Relax the effective hours of "No Stopping Restriction" at Hammer Hill Road to facilitate taxi passengers.
* Add a "Give Way" traffic sign at Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Concourse to remind motorists to slow down.
* Modify a direction sign at Lin Cheung Road to guide motorists.
* Add a direction sign and destination road markings at East Kowloon Corridor to guide motorists.
* Add a yellow box at the junction of Argyle Street and Tin Kwong Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add a double white line and a yellow box at Wang Hoi Road to regulate lane-cutting activities and to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Modify a direction sign and add destination road markings at Hong Chong Road to guide motorists.
* Install street name plates at West Kowloon Corridor to facilitate motorists.
* Install railings at Arran Lane to deter illegal parking on pavement.
* Install steel bollards at Prince Edward Road West to deter illegal parking.
* Erect cylinders at Fung Tak Road to prohibit right-turning movements.
* Widen a safety island at Tonkin Street West to facilitate pedestrians.
* Apply an anti-skid dressing system on a road hump at China Hong Kong Ferry Terminal to improve road safety.
* Add parking spaces for motorcycles at Kai Yan Street to facilitate motorcyclists.
New Territories
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at the following locations to alleviate traffic congestion: Pak Wo Road, Tuen Hing Road, Chung On Street and Shing Mun Road.
* Increase the pedestrian green time of traffic lights at Long Ping Road and Castle Peak Road - Yuen Long to facilitate pedestrians.
* Synchronise traffic lights at Wang Tat Road to improve traffic flow.
* Modify the mode of operation of traffic lights at Tin Yiu Road to improve traffic flow.
* Add a traffic sign at San Tin Highway to remind motorists of a bus lane ahead.
* Delete a double white line at Long Yat Road to facilitate turning movements of long vehicles.
* Erect steel bollards at South Lantau Road to deter illegal parking on pavement.
* Install railings at Castle Peak Road - Lam Tei to deter illegal parking on pavement and cycle track.
* Install a roundabout at the junction of Po Shun Road and Po Yap Road to improve road safety.
* Add parking spaces for motorcycles at Lok Shun Path and Tsing Yeung Circuit to facilitate motorcyclists.
Ends/Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:44
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