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Following is a question by the Hon Dr David Chu and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (June 25) :-

Question:

The Administration advised this Council in June last year that, in view of the unclear reception of radio broadcasts inside some of the road tunnels, action was in hand to upgrade the Radio Re-broadcasting Systems of the tunnels concerned. As I have still received complaints recently from the public in this regard, will the Government inform this Council of the progress of such upgrading works?

Reply:

Madam President,

All road tunnels in Hong Kong are installed with Radio Re-broadcasting Systems (RRS) which transmit radio signals from broadcasting stations into the tunnel tubes enabling motorists to listen to different radio channels.

To ensure the quality of the re-broadcasted radio signals, the Administration conducts regular checks and undertakes improvement measures to address the radio reception problems in individual tunnels. The progress and programmes of such improvement works are detailed as follows -

For the Shing Mun Tunnel and Tseung Kwan O Tunnel, the radio signals received were relatively weak in the past because of interference from the local landscape. The main components of the RRS in the Shing Mun Tunnel were replaced and equalisers were installed in the Tseung Kwan O Tunnel in September 2002 to enhance the radio signals from the relevant broadcasting stations so that motorists can listen more clearly to the broadcasts from various channels. The situation has now been improved.

As regards the old Airport Tunnel, Aberdeen Tunnel and Lion Rock Tunnel, the radio signals received at either ends of the tunnels come from different repeater broadcasting stations, thus affecting the quality of radio reception in the tunnels. These tunnels will be provided with Radio Data Systems to enable automatic tracking of radio signals inside the tunnel tubes. Worn-out parts will also be replaced to upgrade the functions of the RRS and improve the quality of reception. The upgrading works at the old Airport Tunnel and Aberdeen Tunnel are expected to complete in mid-2004. As for the Lion Rock Tunnel, the improvement works for the RRS, which form part of the upgrading works of the entire traffic control and surveillance system, are expected to complete in mid-2005.

The RRS of the Cross Harbour Tunnel was designed some 30 years ago and is now reaching the end of its serviceable life. Action is in hand to replace the existing RRS so as to upgrade the re-broadcasting functions. The project is expected to complete in mid-2004.

As regards the four "Build, Operate and Transfer" tunnels, the Administration has been closely monitoring the quality of radio reception inside the tunnel tubes. The tunnel operators will make suitable improvements according to the performance of individual RRS. For instance, the RRS at the Tate's Cairn Tunnel was replaced in September 2001. The main components of the RRS at the Eastern Harbour Crossing were replaced in 2001 and 2002 and the RRS will be replaced in phases in 2004 and 2008. The Administration will continue to work closely with the tunnel operators and propose improvement measures as appropriate.

End/Wednesday, June 25, 2003

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