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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, at the Legislative Council meeting today (April 28):
Question:
It has been reported that at present there are insufficient parking spaces for vehicles carrying cylinder liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG"). Moreover, some cylinder LPG distributors are unaware of the requirement that such vehicles must be parked at designated locations. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of vehicles carrying cylinder LPG in Hong Kong at present, as well as the current total number of parking spaces for such vehicles and their distribution in various districts;
(b) whether it has assessed and reviewed if the current parking facilities for vehicles carrying cylinder LPG are sufficient; if it has, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) what measures and promotional activities are in place to enhance the trade's awareness of the requirement for vehicles carrying cylinder LPG to be parked at designated locations?
Reply:
President,
(a)&(b) The LPG cylinder wagon (cylinder wagon) owners are required to apply for a permit from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). As set out on the overleaf of the permit, in districts where designated parking sites are available, all cylinder wagons laden with cylinders should only be parked in such sites.
According to the latest record of EMSD, the number of cylinder wagon is 453. In districts where designated parking sites are not available, cylinder wagons can be parked at outdoor roadside non-designated parking spaces which can meet the 15-metre safety distance requirement. Currently, seven car parks are available under short term tenancy for parking cylinder wagons. They are at Tat Yeung Road in Kwai Chung, Tin Hau Road in Area 17 of Tuen Mun, Old Kai Tak Airport at Concorde Road, Pofulam Road, the junction of Sheung On Street and Sheung Ping Street in Chai Wan, Fung Mat Road and Eastern Street North in Sai Ying Pun. These seven car parks provide a total of 313 parking spaces. In total, parking spaces in outdoor car parks for cylinder wagons together with outdoor roadside non-designated parking spaces should fully meet the parking needs of cylinder wagons in every district.
EMSD has been keeping a close eye on the parking issues of cylinder wagons. The inspection conducted by EMSD earlier this year indicates that there should be sufficient parking spaces in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. For New Territories West, there should be spare capacity in the designated parking site at Tat Yeung Road, Kwai Chung to accommodate additional demand. On the supply of parking spaces in New Territories East, the trade has earlier raised with EMSD the suggestion to identify a car park for parking cylinder wagons, on top of the outdoor roadside non-designated parking spaces currently available in Shatin. EMSD is following up the matter with various departments concerned. EMSD will also liaise with relevant departments to identify parking spaces when needed, for instance, a car park in Chai Wan has been made available for parking cylinder wagons from April 1, 2010.
(c) EMSD will issue letters from time to time to cylinder wagon owners and permit holders to remind them of relevant permit conditions including the parking requirement. The latest batch of letters was issued to cylinder wagon owners and permit holders in February this year. EMSD also have regular meetings with the trade including the distributor associations of LPG cylinders, to discuss issues relating to the operation of the trade including the demand for cylinder wagon parking spaces.
Ends/Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:20
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