Dr. HO: Sir, my question is quite similar to Jackie CHAN's
but a bit more specific. Is Government satisfied that the
authority responsible for co-ordinating applications for road
excavation for various purposes is efficient so that inconvenience
caused
the public is kept to the minimum?
to the
SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Yes, I am satisfied that the
authority is doing a very good job.
Mrs. CHOW: Sir, what measures are taken to ensure that these
1,100 excavation works are not causing unnecessary traffic
congestion, especially during rush hours, such as specifying
traffic management arrangements to be undertaken by the
contractor concerned when permits are being issued?
SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, the Highways Department
scrutinise applications in considerable detail. It is its
function to ensure that the interruption to the traffic and to
the public is kept to a minimum, and if it feels otherwise,
it is its function to discuss it with the utilities concerned.
Moreover, each application of this kind is discussed in its
committees at their monthly meeting and on those occasions
also
the opportunity is taken to discuss how different road-openings
can be co-ordinated so as to ensure that inconvenience to the
public is kept to the minimum.
Mr. CHAN YING-LUN (in Cantonese): Sir, concerning paragraph 3,
mention is made of the Regulations and the Code of Practice
and this, Sir, should not be for traffic safety only but also