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Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (November 21):
Question:
It has been 15 years since the Transport Department commissioned the Third Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS) in August 1997. During this period, the population, the number of visitors to Hong Kong as well as the volume of cross-boundary passenger and traffic flows have grown significantly, and public demand for public transport service has also changed and increased following the development of new towns as well as the implementation of the Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities. While the residents of some districts frequently complain about the inadequacy of public transport service, some public transport operators claim that they have incurred losses year after year due to insufficient patronage and are hence under pressure to increase fares. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the implementation progress of the various recommendations made in the Third CTS; whether any of the recommendations has not yet been implemented; if so, of the reasons for that; and
(b) given that the Third CTS has formulated a transport strategy up to 2016 only, whether the authorities will commence the Fourth CTS within this year or early next year to make forward planning for the development of the transport system in the 10-odd years thereafter, and to position various modes of public transport in a clearer and more specific way, so as to facilitate their healthy development; if they will, of the details of the study (including the commencement date, contents and methodology, when the study can be completed and when the transport sector and the public will be briefed on the outcome); if not, of the data or reasons based on which the authorities decide not to conduct such study at this stage, and under what circumstances the authorities will consider commencing the study?
Reply:
President,
The demand for transport services in Hong Kong is closely related to our socio-economic development. Population growth and community development, together with the expansion of the port and airport facilities as well as the increase in cross-boundary traffic, have resulted in an increasing traffic demand. The Government has conducted three comprehensive transport studies in the past. The last study was carried out in 1997 with the planning horizon extended to 2016. Based on the findings of this study, which was completed in 1999, the Government formulated in the same year the "Hong Kong Moving Ahead: A Transport Strategy for The Future" focusing on the following five transport strategies:
(1) Better integration of transport and land use planning;
(2) Better use of railways as the backbone of our passenger transport system;
(3) Better public transport services and facilities;
(4) Better use of advanced technologies in transport management; and
(5) Better environmental protection.
My reply to the two parts of the question is as follows:
(1) The various policy recommendations covered by the "Hong Kong Moving Ahead: A Transport Strategy for The Future" promulgated in 1999 have all been implemented. The details are at Annex.
(2) Upon the completion of the Third Comprehensive Transport Study in 1999, we built up a computerised transport model. Through continuous upkeep and updating, the model has been used to produce traffic demand forecast over the territory. This has enabled us to formulate transport strategy and to implement various road infrastructure projects timely. In 2005, the Transport Department commissioned the consultancy study "Restructuring and Enhancement of the Third Comprehensive Transport Study Model". The study, which was completed in 2008, updated the model with the latest planning data and adopted an advanced modelling technique for evaluating and updating the traffic forecast up to 2021.
To further enhance the above transport model and take the latest population data into account, the Transport Department completed two territory-wide traffic surveys, namely, "Travel Characteristics Survey" and "Goods Vehicle Trips Characteristics Survey". The survey data are being analysed and the transport model will be further updated. The above assignment, which would enhance the accuracy of the traffic forecast up to 2031, is expected to be completed in 2014.
Regarding transport infrastructure, under the review mechanism of the public works programme, we conduct strategic assessments and update the forecasts of traffic demand by using the aforesaid transport model and the latest planning data in order to review the need, the scope and implementation timetable of the major highway projects every year.
Furthermore, we have been conducting thematic and regional transportation studies on a need basis, including the Study on Rationalising the Utilisation of Road Harbour Crossings; as well as the studies on impacts of new railway projects to other public transport services and the need for improving the co-ordination of different public transport modes before the commissioning of new railways.
On the other hand, the Government promulgated the "Railway Development Strategy 2000" in 2000, which formulated the development plan for Hong Kong's railway network up to 2016. We have been implementing the railway development projects proposed under the "Railway Development Strategy 2000". Out of these projects, the Kowloon Southern Link was commissioned in 2009; and five railway projects, i.e. the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section), West Island line, South Island line (East), Kwun Tong Line Extension and Shatin to Central Link, are being implemented in full swing. These projects will be completed progressively between 2014 and 2020. By that time, a mass transport network with great accessibility will be formed and the rail services will cover a catchment area resided by over 70% of the population of the territory.
At the same time, in response to the latest development of the community, we are conducting the review and update of "Railway Development Strategy 2000" to update the long-term railway development blueprint of Hong Kong (up to 2031). The study will review those outstanding railway projects proposed in the "Railway Development Strategy 2000", as well as other railway schemes put forward by the Government or the public. The entire study is expected to be completed in mid-2013.
The Government is currently implementing a number of major road infrastructure projects, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, Central-Wan Chai Bypass, the connecting road serving the proposed Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point. At the same time, projects like Central Kowloon Route and Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel are under planning. It is expected that with these projects, both the domestic and cross-boundary transportation needs in the next decade could be addressed.
In sum, we keep various transport strategies under review having regard to the latest data on planning and the proposed new development areas provided by the Planning Department. We also conduct thematic and regional transportation studies from time to time. We intend to consider the direction and appropriate timing for commissioning the fourth comprehensive transport study after completing the study on Review and Update of the "Railway Development Strategy 2000" and taking into account the status of implementation of various major infrastructure projects.
Ends/Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:03
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