HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 13 January 1988
611
Finally, all radio stations have daily and very often hourly programmes ating the public on the latest traffic situation and any special traffic arrangements are highlighted in these programmes.
MRS. NG (in Cantonese): Sir, in the second paragraph of the answer it was mentioned that for major schemes involving area-wide traffic and public transport diversions, press conferences would be held. Last month, the road surface of Fu Mei Street in Wang Tau Hom was repaved and the work would last for six months. All means of public transport had to be diverted elsewhere. In this particular road diversion, could I ask what method had been adopted by the Government to inform the general public? I recall that on that particular day a lot of chaos was caused amongst road users.
SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT: Sir, in the case quoted by Mrs. NG, the district board transport committee had been consulted before work started and I believe that further to that consultation a discussion was held with the area committee chaired by Mrs. Pauline NG herself. I am happy to say that since that discussion, some minor improvements have been made to the traffic arrange- ments satisfactory to all concerned.
MRS. NG (in Cantonese): Sir, it is true that three days before the diversion took effect the area committee had discussed the plans for the diversions. However, we were not responsible for publicising such a plan on behalf of the Government. Therefore on that day there was a lot of confusion. Could I also ask whether the Government is implementing our suggestions after receiving them, because the diversion has now been in place for one month and although we have suggested that the traffic light signal should be improved. I do not think that has been done as yet. There is therefore congestion on the roads.
SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT: Sir, to answer the first part of Mrs. NG's further question, there was wide publicity on the arrangements before the work started. In fact, in addition to a press release, there were announcements made in at least two papers in the local press on these arrangements. As regards Mrs. NG's other question, I understand that out of the five or six suggestions made by the area committee concerned, about half of them have been introduced and the other half are being looked at by the Transport and Highways Departments and I hope that we shall make progress in the next few days on these improvements.
Advertising signboards
2. MR. CHEONG-LEEN asked: Will Government inform this Council whether it has any plans to remove not only abandoned advertising signboards but also large ones which protrude well into the middle of the road and which are potentially dangerous?