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The Government has expressed its concern about the measures implemented by the management of Fairview Park on the private road section of Fairview Park Boulevard to bar container vehicles from using the road section.
The Government called on the residents of Fairview Park and Tai Sang Wai as well as the container truck trade to stay calm and use communication and negotiation to work out a mutually acceptable solution to their differences.
A government spokesman said today (March 16) that the container trade could use Kam Pok Road to enter or leave Tai Sang Wai and that the Police were stepping up patrols and directing traffic at the roundabout of Fairview Park and its vicinity. The Transport Department will continue to closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate traffic management measures.
The spokesman said that according to available information in respect of the development of Fairview Park, the developer had bought the agricultural land involved to make way for providing Fairview Park Boulevard. The matter involved private agreements covering right of way and other responsibilities. The controversy on the right of way is purely a private dispute between the developer and those who claim to possess the right of way. The Government has appealed to all parties concerned to resolve the differences by means of communication and negotiation to work out a mutually acceptable solution.
As for the demand that the Government takes over Fairview Park Boulevard according to standard land resumption procedures, it is the Government's view that using public money to resolve disputes over the right of way on private road section was not appropriate.
It was noted that some Fairview Park residents said recently that the Fairview Park Boulevard had been open to the use of local residents and the public and it was unfair for them to bear the full maintenance costs. They suggested that the Government should consider carrying out the road maintenance works. After careful consideration, the Government promised to seek support from the Yuen Long District Council to allocate funding of $1.5 million under the District Minor Works programme for one-off maintenance works. However, approval has to be sought from the developer before works begin. The developer has rejected the proposal.
The Government is actively planning a new road at Tai Sang Wai which will meet the development and operation needs of the area on the one hand, and help heavy goods vehicles going to and from Tai Sang Wai reduce their use of Fairview Park Boulevard, and improve the environment on the other. If the scheme is implemented smoothly, the new road is expected to be completed in 2012.
Ends/Monday, March 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 13:44
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