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The Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) received a total of 4,889 complaints and suggestions from April 1 to June 30, 2006. Among these, 39 were purely suggestions. The total number of cases recorded an increase of 5.5% compared with 4,634 cases in the previous quarter.
Most complaints and suggestions were related to public transport services (75%), enforcement matters (15%) and traffic conditions (6%). The number related to public transport services increased by 5.4% from 3,496 in the previous quarter to 3,685 this quarter. Complaints and suggestions about traffic conditions increased from 241 in the last quarter to 266 this quarter. Those about road maintenance dropped slightly from 89 in the last quarter to 87 in this quarter. The number of complaints about illegal parking and other enforcement matters increased from 727 to 745.
"It is noteworthy that we enhanced the publicity of the TCU's hotline in the second half of 2005. Apart from displaying the hotline at major public transport interchanges, bus terminuses and on taxis, we have published it in newspapers," a spokesman for the TAC said.
"In addition, a new requirement to display the hotline inside public light buses has been included in their licensing conditions since late October 2005. We note that the number of complaints and suggestions received by the TCU has been on the rise since the third quarter of 2005," the spokesman said.
All the complaints and suggestions received by the TCU in the quarter were referred to the relevant authorities and government departments for follow-up action.
During the period under review, investigations into 4,209 cases were completed. Of these, 2,908 cases (69%) were found to be substantiated, 213 cases (5%) were unsubstantiated, and the remaining 1,088 cases (26%) were not pursued due to lack of evidence. For the substantiated cases, the relevant government departments or public transport operators have either taken steps to rectify the situation or are considering possible solutions to the problems identified.
During the quarter, the relevant government departments and organisations took on board 50 suggestions made by the public to enhance public transport services and improve traffic conditions. A summary of the cases where public suggestions have helped to bring about improvements is at the Appendix.
Members of the public may make their suggestions or complaints to the TCU by dialling the hotline 2889 9999 (voice mail service after office hours), by fax to 2577 1858, by email to info@tcu.gov.hk or by filling in a complaint form downloaded from the TCU website http://www.info.gov.hk/tcu.
Appendix
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Public Suggestions Taken on Board by Relevant Authorities
(April – June 2006)
I. Public Transport Services
Hong Kong Island
* Remove queue railings at a bus stop at Tung Lo Wan Road to facilitate passengers.
Kowloon
* Add a bus stop at Salisbury Road to meet the demand of passengers.
New Territories
* Introduce a green minibus service between Tsuen Wan Central and Tung Lo Wan Hill Road to meet the demand of passengers.
* Add bus stops at Mei Tin Estate and Chui Ling Road to meet the demand of passengers.
* Enlarge the waiting area at a bus stop at Tai Po Road – Tai Wai to facilitate passengers.
II. Traffic Management
Hong Kong Island
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic light at Morrison Hill Road to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Synchronise traffic lights at the following locations to improve traffic flow : Bonham Road, Fleming Road and Shan Kwong Road.
* Extend "No Stopping Restriction" at Village Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add a traffic sign at Cyberport Road to remind motorists to slow down.
* Add a traffic sign at Ormsby Street to avoid confusion to motorists.
* Add a "Keep Clear" road marking at Park Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Add double white lines at Kennedy Road to regulate lane-cutting activities.
* Provide anti-skid surfacing layer at Tin Wan Praya Road to improve road safety.
Kowloon
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at the following locations to alleviate traffic congestion: Ko Shan Road, Tonkin Street, Fung Tak Road, Hung Hom Road and Jordan Road.
* Synchronise traffic lights at Hip Wo Street to improve traffic flow.
* Increase the pedestrian green time of traffic lights at Lei Yue Mun Road and Kwun Tong Road to facilitate pedestrians.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" at Shantung Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street South to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Extend "No Stopping Restriction" at the following locations to prevent vehicle obstruction: Tseuk Kiu Street, Sin Fat Road and Waterloo Road.
* Extend the effective hours of "No Stopping Restriction" at Lai Chi Kok Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Erect additional "No Right Turn" traffic signs at Ko Chiu Road to remind motorists.
* Add a "No Left Turn" traffic sign at Castle Peak Road to remind motorists.
* Add an "Ahead Only or Turn Left" road marking at Lai Chi Kok Road to remind motorists.
* Add a warning sign at Hing Tin Street to alert motorists of children/school ahead.
* Convert a section of Broadcast Drive to a one-way road to improve road safety.
* Convert a taxi stand at Ka Wing Street to general loading/unloading area to facilitate motorists.
* Add a signalised pedestrian crossing at Portland Street to facilitate pedestrians.
New Territories
* Increase the vehicular green time of traffic lights at Lok King Street and Che Kung Miu Road to alleviate traffic congestion.
* Impose "No Stopping Restriction" and install railings at Hoi Chu Road to deter illegal parking.
* Extend the effective hours of "No Stopping Restriction" at Wan Tau Street to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Erect an additional "No Right Turn" traffic sign at Castle Peak Road to remind motorists.
* Install railings at Sai Lau Kok Road to prevent vehicle obstruction.
* Revise the layout of a roundabout at Po Ning Road, Po Lam Road North and Po Shun Road to improve road safety.
Ends/Friday, September 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:59
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