LCQ22: "Walk in HK" initiative
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Question:
The Government put forward the "Walk in HK" initiative in 2017 and formulated the overall walkability strategy for Hong Kong (the strategy) in 2020 to implement four main objectives, namely "make it connected", "make it safe", "make it enjoyable" and "make it smart", whilst one of the enhancement initiatives is to declutter non-essential traffic signs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the latest situation of the implementation of the strategy, as well as the measures and projects (including the locations involved and timetables) planned to be rolled out in the coming three years;
(2) of the specific measures and projects to achieve the objective of "make it enjoyable" for members of the public as set out in the strategy;
(3) of the progress of decluttering non-essential traffic signs (including the number of signs decluttered and the locations involved); the number of traffic signs planned to be decluttered under the strategy in the coming five years, as well as the locations involved and timetables; and
(4) as there are proposals pointing out that the Government may consider replacing traditional railings with roadside bollards (e.g. those relatively short bollards installed along the road sections of Percival Street and Paterson Street in Causeway Bay) which are aesthetically more appealing and distinctive, so as to create a pleasant walking environment and "make it enjoyable" for members of the public as set out in the strategy, whether the Government has plans to install such kind of roadside bollards in other districts; if so, of the details (including a comparison between the costs of such bollards and traditional railings); if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
To develop Hong Kong into a walkable city and promote "Walk in HK", the Government formulated the overall walkability strategy for Hong Kong in 2020. The aim of the strategy is to place high priority on pedestrians in transport planning to foster a pedestrian-friendly environment and promote walking as a form of sustainable urban mobility under four pillars, namely "make it connected", "make it safe", "make it enjoyable" and "make it smart". The Government is taking forward walkability enhancement measures across the territory, with suitable new development areas and built-up areas selected for implementing the comprehensive pedestrian planning framework.
My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Tse is as follows:
(1) and (2) Under the overall strategy of "Walk in HK", apart from proceeding with the existing walkability enhancement measures across districts (such as footpath widening, provision of more pedestrian crossing and pedestrian crossing build-outs), the Transport Department (TD) also tests out various new enhancement measures, including setting up of low speed limit zones, decluttering of non-essential traffic signs and railings, levelling of run-ins/outs and provision of raised crossings. The above new measures were tested out in the two pilot areas of Central and Sham Shui Po in 2020 and 2021, and the initial results were generally satisfactory.
The TD is reviewing the results and effectiveness of the various new measures. It will progressively update the relevant technical guidelines with a view to further implementing the new measures in the next three years. Apart from the two pilot areas mentioned above, the TD is actively considering the extension of feasible new measures to other suitable locations, including those in the Eastern District, Yau Tsim Mong, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan, etc. We will take into account the technical conditions and public views to formulate suitable schemes.
In order to provide more comfortable pedestrian connection to destinations and "make it enjoyable" to members of the public, the TD relaxed in 2019 the criteria for provision of covers for walkways stipulated in the Transport Planning and Design Manual, so that more suitable walkways can be provided with covers. The Government is actively taking forward projects of providing covers for walkways connecting public hospitals. Five of such projects (namely Tang Shiu Kin Hospital in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Children's Hospital in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong Eye Hospital in Kowloon City, Tseung Kwun O Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital) are expected to commence works progressively in 2022 for completion by phases from 2024. Moreover, the Government has already commenced various projects to provide covers for walkways across the 18 districts. Four of such projects in the North District, Sai Kung, Kowloon City and Tuen Mun have been completed, while those in the other eight districts are expected to be completed between mid-2022 and 2023. The details are set out in the table below:
District |
Name of covered walkway projects |
| Completed projects | |
| North District |
Walkway at Po Ping Road between the covered footbridge at Tai Ping Estate and the Main Entrance of North District Hospital |
| Sai Kung |
Walkway at Ngan O Road in front of Wo Ming Court/Yuk Ming Court |
| Kowloon City |
Walkway of Hung Hom Road starting from Man Tai Street to the pedestrian crossing near Tak Hong Street |
| Tuen Mun |
Walkway between Town Centre Light Rail Stop and the lift at the footbridge connecting Trend Plaza |
| Projects expected to be completed from mid-2022 to 2023 | |
Yuen Long |
Pedestrian pathway from Yoho Mall I to Pok Oi Hospital |
Sham Shui Po |
Walkway at Woh Chai Street between Exit A of MTR Shek Kip Mei Station and Mei Leong House of Shek Kip Mei Estate |
| Yau Tsim Mong |
The section of walkway at Gascoigne Road from Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the Labour Tribunal |
| Islands |
Walkway at Chui Kwan Drive, On Tung Street and Shun Tung Road in Tung Chung near North Lantau Hospital |
| Sha Tin |
Walkway at Lok King Street from Exit A of MTR Fo Tan Station to Ficus Garden |
| Tai Po |
Walkway at Nam Wan Road between Plover Cove Road and MTR Tai Po Market Station |
| Kwai Tsing |
Walkways between the bus terminus of Cheung Wang Estate and the bus terminus of Cheung Hang Estate, Tsing Yi |
| Southern District | Walkway along Pok Fu Lam Road northbound (connecting Queen Mary Hospital, bus stop and minibus stop) |
(3) To free up more spaces for footpaths and foster a comfortable walking environment with improved streetscape, new measures tested out by the TD in the two pilot areas in Central and Sham Shui Po included the decluttering of non-essential traffic signs. During the pilot period in 2020 and 2021, 196 and 90 non-essential traffic signs were decluttered in the abovementioned two areas respectively. Without compromising road safety and traffic management, the TD will continue to declutter non-essential traffic signs in the territory according to the relevant technical guidelines and existing mechanism (i.e. the power of the Commissioner for Transport to erect or place, or to revoke, amend or temporarily suspend the operation of any traffic sign erected or placed pursuant to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374G)), taking into account factors such as public opinions and planning for traffic improvement works. The TD has formulated plans to inspect and declutter non-essential traffic signs in the territory in the next five years, including Eastern District, Yau Tsim Mong, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan, etc. After the completion of the aforementioned pilot scheme, 133 non-essential traffic signs have been further decluttered. The details are set out below:
| District | Number of non-essential traffic signs which have been further decluttered after the completion of the pilot scheme |
| Eastern District | 28 |
| Yau Tsim Mong | 26 |
| Tuen Mun | 12 |
| Yuen Long | 18 |
| Tsuen Wan | 18 |
| Other districts | 31 |
(4) In order to enhance the walking environment and streetscape, the TD and the Highways Department (HyD) installed a new type of bollards (with/without chains) under a pilot scheme in 2017 in areas along Canal Road East, Percival Street, Cannon Street, Jaffe Road, Lockhart Road and Gloucester Road in Causeway Bay, involving road sections with a total length of about 900 metres. Since the new bollards under the pilot scheme were custom-made in a relatively small quantity, the cost involved doubled or tripled that of the conventional railings. Drawing on the results of the pilot scheme, the HyD incorporated the specifications of such bollards as a standard drawing in 2018, with further updating of the design in 2021. Depending on such factors as the actual road traffic situation and technical conditions in different districts, new bollards may be installed at other locations as appropriate. With wider adoption of the new bollards, the cost incurred is expected to be lower than that of the pilot scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:05
Issued at HKT 17:05
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