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Following is a question by the Hon Christopher Chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (May 28):
Question:
I have received quite a number of complaints from the residents on Hong Kong Island claiming that the utilisation rates of quite a number of footbridges are very low because there are more convenient alternative road crossing facilities or some of the exits of the footbridges are blocked (disused footbridges). Such residents have also pointed out that due to long-standing poor management, such footbridges often become environmental hygiene black spots or even hotbeds of crime. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current total number of disused footbridges in Hong Kong (including those constructed by the Government and those by private developers in accordance with land lease requirements and open for public use), and set out in a table the locations of such footbridges by the 18 District Council districts;
(2) whether there is any policy at present to deal with disused footbridges; if so, of the details and the responsible government department(s); if not, whether it will conduct a review and expeditiously formulate such a policy;
(3) whether, in the past five years, it received reports or complaints from the public about disused footbridges being misused or used for unlawful purposes, e.g. laying of personal items, drug abuse, street sleeping and gambling; if so, of the number of such reports and complaints, and whether the authorities have taken law enforcement actions; if they have, of the details; and
(4) whether, in the past five years, it demolished or demanded private developers to demolish disused footbridges; if so, of the number and locations of such footbridges; if not, whether it will take measures such as putting up wooden hoardings around the entrances and exits of the footbridges to prevent them from being misused or used for unlawful purposes?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the four parts of Hon Christopher Chung's question is as follows:
(1) According to the Transport Department (TD)'s available information, there are currently 11 footbridges constructed by the Government which are under-utilised. Their locations sorted by District Council (DC) district are tabulated below:
Location DC district
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1. Chai Wan Road
near Wan Tsui Road Eastern
2. King's Road
near Tong Shui Road Eastern
3. Western Street
near Connaught Road West Central and Western
4. Yen Chow Street
near Cheong San Lane Sham Shui Po
5. Waterloo Road
near Yim Po Fong Street Yau Tsim Mong
6. Boundary Street
near Waterloo Road Kowloon City
7. Wang Chiu Road
near Wang Kwong Road Kwun Tong
8. Tai Wo Hau Road
near Hing Fong Road Kwai Tsing
9. Wetland Park Road
near Tin Kwai Road Yuen Long
10. Tung Wui Road
near Kam Sheung Road Yuen Long
11. Near Wai Loi Tsuen, Sheung Shui North
The TD does not keep information on the utilisation of footbridges which are constructed by private developers and are open for public use in accordance with land lease requirements.
(2) The TD from time to time monitors the under-utilised footbridges constructed by the Government and implements appropriate measures, including erecting more directional signs to guide pedestrians to use these footbridges in order to enhance their utilisation. In this regard, the TD will also take into consideration views from DCs.
(3) An under-utilised footbridge may not necessarily be susceptible to misuse or unlawful use. Government departments such as the Police, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Lands Department, Highways Department and the TD will take appropriate actions to address any irregularities if identified. As for the statistics on reports or complaints from the public about footbridges being misused or used for unlawful purposes and the enforcement actions taken, the government departments concerned do not have the breakdown figures. The TD has not received any complaints from members of the public about footbridges being misused or used for unlawful purposes in the past.
(4) In the past five years, the Government neither demolished any under-utilised footbridges constructed by the Government nor requested any private developers to demolish their footbridges which are of low utilisation. The TD will continue to keep in view the utilisation of footbridges constructed by the Government. Where necessary, relevant government departments will conduct inter-departmental joint operations to prevent under-utilised footbridges from being misused or used for unlawful purposes.
Ends/Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:55
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