244 Transport
All vehicles imported into Hong Kong must be examined to make sure they meet statutory requirements before they can be registered and licensed. In 2008, of 590 vehicle types approved, 572 went through a simplified procedure that involved examining sample vehicles of the same model.
Electronic payment facilities are now available at all vehicle examination centres, providing additional convenience for users. Vehicle Appointment Status Display Systems have been installed at the New Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre, the Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre and the To Kwa Wan Vehicle Examination Centre, informing people of available booking dates. The booking information is also available on the Internet.
Application of Technology
Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed at heavy traffic spots to monitor conditions at these places so that drivers can avoid them if possible. At present, 168 cameras are installed in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Tai Po and North District. In mid-2006, the Transport Department upgraded its Hong Kong Island CCTV system by replacing it with the first digital CCTV system in Hong Kong. The new system improves monitoring and will reduce operating costs in long run.
There are also 97 cameras operating on major highways including Tuen Mun Road, West Kowloon Highway, North Lantau Highway, San Tin Highway, Yuen Long Highway, Shenzhen Bay Bridge, Kong Sham Western Highway, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway and roads leading to the boundary crossings. The CCTV systems' coverage was extended further to cover Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in 2008. The project to install 48 cameras was substantially completed in October.
To further enhance the work on
on traffic surveillance and information dissemination, the department plans to install CCTV cameras in the urban and New Territories areas. This CCTV Project will involve the provision of new CCTV cameras in the Tseung Kwan O area, along Strategic Road Network and major roads; and renewal of existing CCTV cameras in Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin. In addition, the CCTV Project will include installation of new cameras for traffic information dissemination to the public. Work on this project started in January and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
Images captured by CCTV cameras at 43 strategic locations were first shown to the public on the Internet in 1999. This was well received, prompting the department to expand the service to cover 120 locations. In early 2007, the department and mobile network operators joined hands to allow people to view these images on their mobile phones as well.
The department's mobile CCTV system can be deployed to remote areas or minor roads within one hour. It relays visual and real time images of incidents and traffic situations to traffic control centres for taking swift action to reduce traffic disruption.