***********************************

Following is a question by the Hon Miriam Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (April 30) :

Question:

According to "The Second Parking Demand Study - Final Report" ("the Report") published by the Transport Department in November last year, there were shortfalls of 3 300 and 9 000 parking spaces for coaches and goods vehicles respectively (GV) in Hong Kong in 2000. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of sites granted for coaches and GV parking in each of the past three years, as well as the locations and sizes of the sites, and the estimated numbers of parking spaces provided;

(b) as the Report recommends that where parking shortage is justified and the maximum plot ratio requirements under the Buildings Ordinance are met, the Government may make use of the opportunity afforded by redevelopment proposals to require developers to provide more parking spaces and, under such initiatives, consideration should particularly be given to requiring developers to provide more GV parking spaces in areas where severe shortages of GV parking spaces are anticipated, whether the Government has considered implementing the recommendation with a view to increasing the supply of coaches and GV parking spaces; if so, of the outcome of its consideration; if not, the reasons for that; and

(c) as the Report also recommends that short-term tenancy sites and vacant private development sites may be temporarily used for coaches or GV parking, whether the Government has considered the recommendation; if so, of the outcome of its consideration; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

In order to meet the shortfalls of parking spaces for coaches and goods vehicles (GVs), we have been providing vacant Government land and private development sites for coaches or GV parking before they are developed. For the former, we grant short-term tenancies (STT) and the latter by means of temporary conversion of land use.

As at December 2002, there were a total of 140 STT sites providing 714 and 10,378 parking spaces for coaches and GVs respectively. The total area of the STT sites for coach and GV parking had been maintained at around 1.2 million square metres per annum over the past three years. The details of STT parking sites for coaches and GVs from 2000 to 2002 are set out in the Annex.(2000, 2001, 2002)

As recommended in the "Second Parking Demand Study", the Government would make use of the opportunities afforded by redevelopment proposals to negotiate with and encourage developers to provide additional parking spaces for coaches and GVs to meet the demand in the areas concerned as well as the additional demand generated by the redevelopment. In addition, through the inclusion of parking provisions as conditions in land sale programmes, private developers have been required to develop and operate public parking areas for coaches and GVs in areas of demand and where surrounding road networks are capable of handling the additional traffic generated.

The Government will continue to make efforts to meet the demand for parking spaces for coaches and GVs with reference to the recommendations of the "Second Parking Demand Study".

End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003

NNNN