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Following is a question by the Hon Tam Heung-man and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 7) :
Question:
I have recently received complaints that some unauthorised residents' coaches (URCs) drop off passengers in Central in the area along Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central during morning peak hours, causing serious traffic congestion in the area. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of complaints received in each of the past three years which involved URCs, and the follow-up actions taken in respect of such complaints;
(b) whether it has taken enforcement actions against the activities of URCs in the areas frequented by them, so as to prevent them from blocking the roads and affecting public transport services; if it has, of the number and results of enforcement actions taken in each of the past three years; and
(c) whether it will consider stepping up enforcement actions and raising the penalties for operating URCs, so as to enhance the deterrent effect; if it will, of the relevant details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
The Transport Department (TD) received 170, 151 and 231 complaints against suspected unauthorised operation of non-franchised bus (NFB) services in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively. On receiving information about the suspected unauthorised NFB services, TD officers will conduct thorough investigations to ascertain the existence of such unauthorised activities and take appropriate follow-up actions. All the complaints received in the past three years have been investigated and followed up with appropriate actions.
If an NFB driver is found to fail to comply with the passenger service licence (PSL) conditions or operating details, TD will first issue a warning to the PSL holder. A non-compliant operator is subject to an inquiry conducted by TD, in accordance with section 30 of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374). TD will consider a number of factors including the gravity of the contravention and the PSL holder's past record of breaching the licence conditions before determining whether to suspend, cancel or amend the concerned PSL as a penalty. TD conducted 51, 52 and 51 inquiries concerning non-compliant PSL holders in the past three years.
In addition to conducting investigations at black spots of unauthorised NFB activities and conducting inquiries relating to PSL holders, TD works in collaboration with the Police and provides them with information to facilitate their enforcement actions against unapproved picking up or setting down activities by drivers in prohibited zones. The Police issued 7,575; 7,290 and 8,319 fixed penalty tickets in respect of NFBs picking up or setting down passengers in prohibited zones in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Separately, TD has been implementing traffic and transport management measures at a total of 13 locations across the territory since 2004 to combat unauthorised NFB services. For the Central District, TD has implemented the above measures along Des Voeux Road Central, Connaught Road Central and Jackson Road. Unauthorised NFB activities at the above spots have been successfully curbed, thereby avoiding affecting traffic along these busy areas.
Based on the Transport Advisory Committee's recommendation in 2004 that the sanctions imposed on non-compliant NFB service operators subsequent to inquiries should be reviewed, TD now imposes heavier penalties on repeated offenders, which include longer PSL suspension period and permanent cancellation of PSLs for repeated and flagrant offenders.
Over the past three years, TD suspended PSLs for 117 NFBs and cancelled PSLs for 30 NFBs based on the outcome of inquiries. PSL holders are not allowed to operate NFBs in question during the suspension period. Having regard to the impact of PSL cancellation on their business, inquiries and relevant penalties have considerable deterrent effect on unauthorised activities of NFB operators.
In order to enhance the efficiency of enforcement actions, TD is now studying with the Police the feasibility of creating certain breaches of PSL conditions as offences that are subject to fixed penalty ticketing system. TD will continue to work with the Police in combating unauthorised NFB operation to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Ends/Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:08
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