********************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Cheuk-yan and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Yau Shing-mu, in the Legislative Council today (June 8):
Question:
The Government is studying the implementation of an Electronic Road Pricing pilot scheme in Central and its adjacent areas. Nevertheless, quite a number of drivers have relayed to me that the scheme will not be effective in alleviating the traffic congestion problem in Central because illegal parking is the major cause of the problem. Although the authorities have all along emphasised that they will step up law enforcement against illegal parking in Central, some media found, after making observations for several consecutive days in mid-February this year, that there were more than a hundred vehicles parked illegally during peak hours on the roads in Central and its vicinity, and some of the vehicles were used by senior government officials. Besides, a community group found, after making observations for three days in mid-March this year at Pedder Street and Chater Road in Central, that the problems of illegal parking as well as picking up/setting down passengers and loading/unloading goods at improper locations were extremely serious. While the community group recorded a total of 1 617 instances of illegal parking on the two roads, only 13 law enforcement actions taken by police officers (e.g. giving advice or issuing fixed penalty tickets to the drivers involved in illegal parking) were recorded during the same period (i.e. the ratio of illegal parking to law enforcement action is 124:1). Moreover, during the "Regional Traffic Day of Hong Kong Island" which fell on March 11, the community group recorded a total of 1 226 instances of illegal parking on the aforesaid two roads, but witnessed only six law enforcement actions taken by police officers (i.e. the ratio of illegal parking to law enforcement action is 204:1). As such, some members of the public consider that the authorities merely go through the motions in their so-called "stepping up of law enforcement". In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the authorities will set a good example by formulating effective measures to eradicate the situation of illegal parking of government vehicles in Central, so as to alleviate the problem of traffic congestion in Central; if they will, of the details; and
(2) whether the authorities will re-examine their policy on combating illegal parking in Central and step up law enforcement, with a view to managing the traffic in the district in an effective manner?
Reply:
President,
My consolidated reply to the Hon Lee Cheuk-yan's question is as follows:
The Government has been adopting a multi-pronged approach in tackling road traffic congestion. In March 2014, the Government invited the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) to conduct a study on the causes of, and solutions to, road traffic congestion in Hong Kong. In end 2014, the TAC submitted to the Government a report on its study. The Government accepted the report, and will implement in phases a series of short, medium and long-term measures recommended by TAC (see the Annex for details), having regard to stakeholders' views, feasibility of available options and overseas experiences, etc.
The TAC considers it necessary to raise the level of fixed penalties for congestion-related offences so as to restore their deterrent effect. Despite the limited road space in Hong Kong, some motorists still, for the sake of personal convenience, park or stop on roads illegally, or pick up/set down passengers or load/unload goods in restricted zones, which adversely affects road traffic. The level of fixed penalties for congestion-related traffic offences has not changed since the last increase in 1994. At the end of last year, the Government proposed raising the fixed penalty charges for congestion-related offences by 50%, having regard to the increase in the Composite Consumer Price Index, to restore their original deterrent effect. The Government's proposal has received many comments from the Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Transport and some members of the community. The Government will consider the views and introduce relevant legislative amendments to the LegCo at an appropriate time.
In addition to raising the level of fixed penalties, it is essential to take more stringent enforcement action. The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) will step up enforcement and prosecution action against traffic offences, with focus on combating offences at black spots of illegal parking where traffic congestion are very serious. Central is one of the areas of great concern. During the first four months of this year, the total number of fixed penalty tickets issued by the HKPF to illegally parked vehicles in Central alone was more than 20 000, representing a year-on-year increase of about 3%. In April this year, the HKPF introduced the Selected Traffic Enforcement Priorities (STEP) 2016 which, through enforcement, education and publicity campaigns, targets at undesirable behaviour of road users that may cause traffic accidents and obstruct traffic flow.
Combating illegal parking, picking up/setting down of passengers, and loading/unloading of goods are among the key priorities of traffic enforcement action this year. For example, the HKPF launched a one-week territory-wide operation, starting from June 1 this year, to combat illegal parking. The operation aims at alleviating traffic congestion by combating illegal parking and other congestion-related traffic offences which obstruct traffic flow. Stringent enforcement action would be taken during the operation. The HKPF would issue summons against those who commit traffic offences, particularly those in relation to double parking and stopping or waiting in restricted zones, and those relating to illegal loading/unloading, picking up/setting down, stopping and waiting in prohibited zones. Apart from issuing multiple tickets and taking summons action against drivers who blatantly contravene illegal parking regulations and obstruct traffic flow or even cause danger to other road users, the HKPF would consider towing away the vehicles concerned. The HKPF will, according to STEP 2016, continue to conduct operations against illegal parking, loading/unloading, picking up/setting down across districts in Hong Kong from time to time.
Regarding education and publicity campaigns, the HKPF will continue to liaise closely with relevant stakeholders (including the Road Safety Council) to promote public participation and collect and exchange views on topics such as traffic congestion and illegal parking to formulate measures to alleviate traffic congestion. The HKPF will also strengthen its publicity effort through various channels, such as publicity videos, the press and social media platforms, to encourage road users to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining smooth traffic by refraining from illegal parking, which will help relieve the loading of roads and prevent traffic accidents.
To maintain smooth traffic, the Transport Department (TD) has also put in place feasible traffic management measures for different districts in Hong Kong having regard to specific local circumstances. Examples of such measures include designating restricted zones to prohibit kerbside activities (picking up/setting-down, loading/ unloading) of all or specific vehicles at peak hours; imposing yellow boxes at busy road junctions to avoid blockages which cause traffic congestion; and modifying traffic signals at signalised junctions to maximise vehicular flow thereat and minimise traffic delays, etc. The HKPF will liaise and work closely with the TD, keep in view the traffic conditions of various districts, and review the effectiveness of traffic management measures.
As regards government vehicles, the Government Logistics Department (GLD) has advised that government drivers must, same as other road users, abide by the Road Traffic Ordinance when discharging their duties, and refrain from illegal parking. The Government's Standing Orders for Driving Government Vehicles stipulate that government drivers should obey traffic regulations, and those who contravene any regulation may be subject to disciplinary action. The GLD will remind all government drivers again of their obligation to obey traffic ordinances and regulations when discharging their duties. The HKPF will take enforcement action against illegal parking to maintain traffic order, regardless of whether the offending drivers are government drivers or any other road users.
Ends/Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:16
NNNN
