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Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (December 10):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council of the latest outcome of the discussions among the governments of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao on the operational arrangements of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) upon its commissioning, including the approach for determining the toll levels for various types of vehicles, the quota for private cars, the arrangements for commercial vehicles such as coaches and taxis, etc. to use HZMB, the arrangements for using the boundary crossing facilities, and the measures that will help increase the utilisation of HZMB?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the Hon Frederick Fung's question is set out below:
To prepare for the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have set up the Co-ordination Group on Cross-boundary Matters to press ahead with the relevant policy studies and discussion of the cross-boundary transport arrangements for HZMB. The scopes of the policy studies and discussion cover regulation and quota system of cross-boundary vehicles, toll level for cross-boundary vehicles, traffic management, operation and maintenance, rescue and emergency plans, enforcement coordination and customs facilitation, etc. The policy studies and discussion among the three governments are still in progress.
Concerning the regulation of cross-boundary vehicles, the scopes of the study and discussion among the three governments do not cover local public transport vehicles including taxis. Local public transport vehicles, which are confined to local operation, are not cross-boundary vehicles. They are therefore not allowed to use the Main Bridge of HZMB which is situated within Mainland waters for access to the boundary crossing facilities in Macao and Zhuhai. To meet the local transport needs of the public and visitors after the commissioning of HZMB, the Transport Department is working on the detailed planning of local transport services to and from the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF). Such transport services cover franchised buses, green minibuses, taxis and non-franchised buses.
As regards the use of facilities at HKBCF, there is no need to discuss the use with the governments of Guangdong and Macao because the three governments will manage their own boundary control facilities separately.
Having regard to the functions and features of HZMB, we will formulate a comprehensive transport plan to bring HZMB's benefits for the economy and transport into full play.
Ends/Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:30
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