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Following is a question by the Hon Ip Wai-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 28):
Question:
Since the commissioning of the Kowloon Southern Link, MTR Hung Hom Station has become a super interchange station for the East Rail, the West Rail and cross-harbour tunnel buses, with a significant increase in pedestrian flows. Some members of the public have relayed to me that during peak hours when people go to work and get off work, the situation inside and outside the Station (including the footbridge leading from the MTR station to the cross-harbour tunnel bus stops) is congested and chaotic. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows the number as well as the rate of increase/decrease of passengers using Hung Hom Station and the cross-harbour tunnel bus stops in Hung Hom during peak hours, before and after the Station has become the interchange station for the East Rail and the West Rail;
(b) of the number of people deployed by the authorities and the MTR Corporation Limited each day during peak hours for maintaining order and diverting pedestrian flows inside and outside Hung Hom Station; whether additional manpower will be deployed to maintain order during peak hours, as well as whether measures will be formulated to control pedestrian flows inside and outside Hung Hom Station; and
(c) whether the authorities will consider, in the long run, constructing more connecting facilities, such as pedestrian subways or footbridges, to connect MTR Hung Hom Station, the cross-harbour tunnel bus stops and adjoining areas?
Reply:
President,
For the various parts of the question by the Hon Ip, our reply is set out below -
(a) With the opening of the Kowloon Southern Link (KSL), the number of passengers entering and exiting Hung Hom Station within the busiest hour in the morning (i.e. 8.15am to 9.15am) has increased from an average of about 22,000 passengers before the opening to about 26,000 passengers at present, involving an increase of about 4,000 passengers. The number of passengers interchanging for cross-harbour buses at the Cross Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza (the Toll Plaza) has not shown any significant increase. According to the observations of the Transport Department (TD) and MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the pedestrian flow and order at Hung Hom Station and the surrounding areas have not shown significant changes since the opening of KSL.
KSL enhances Hong Kong's rail network by connecting the East Rail Line and West Rail Line, with Hung Hom Station being the terminus of both lines. Commuting among Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories has become much more convenient. As expected and in accordance with the plans, the opening of KSL has led to additional patronage. After the opening of KSL, the passenger flow and train service operation have remained smooth.
(b) At the initial stage of KSL operation, MTRCL has employed close to 200 additional service ambassadors to provide information on the new service arrangements and assistance to passengers. On the other hand, having regard to demand, MTRCL has arranged for additional station staff, from about 30 staff per day before the opening to about 50 staff at present, to serve passengers and maintain order in the station during peak hours.
As regards the pedestrian flow at the bus stops at the Toll Plaza, the situation is broadly the same as that before the opening of KSL. Hence the franchised bus companies concerned do not need to deploy additional manpower to maintain order at that location.
MTRCL and the franchised bus companies concerned have all along arranged for additional manpower in peak hours to maintain passenger order. Having regard to actual circumstances, they also flexibly mobilise and deploy additional manpower and take appropriate crowd control measures, so as to ensure that their passengers are provided with appropriate and safe service.
(c) There are currently footbridges and elevated walkways at Hung Hom Station, providing adequate pedestrian linkages connecting the station with the cross-harbour bus stops outside the station and the surrounding areas. TD will continue to closely monitor the passenger flow entering and exiting Hung Hom Station and the passenger queueing situation at the adjacent cross-harbour bus stops. Where necessary, the existing crowd control measures will be reviewed with MTRCL and bus companies concerned to ensure that pedestrian flow is smooth in the area of Hung Hom Station.
Ends/Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:20
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