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My next topic is on public transport and parking facilities. Recently, the Commissioner of Transport has made a public statement to warn private car owners that parking fees may be increased by ten folds in due course. While I appreciate that there might be some good reasons for an increase of parking fees, I could never see the point of proposing an increase of such magnitudes. This is merely forcing the public to give up their vehicles or to keep them entirely off the streets. I do wonder whether the Commissioner is also making the same recommendation to the Colonial Secretary for his due implementation so that he may set the public a good example by first imposing similar charge on all existing Government parking places reserved solely for Government servants. Unless this is done, the public will find it difficult to accept the logic behind the proposal and may quite wrongly misjudge our Commissioner for his good intention in the interest of the public.
Let's take a look at the present situation. There is at present about 90,000 private vehicles in Hong Kong, and Government is collecting from these owners an annual license fee of no less than 27 million dollars. One would imagine that Government would in return endeavour to provide more facilities for these tax payers or to devise some effective machinery to tackle the tussle one often encounters on the road. In other words, Government is expected to adopt a well-balanced give-and-take policy. But, surprisingly enough Government seems to be doing the opposite all the time. Can Government think of doing something more positive?
As a matter of fact, some of our traffic problems today may be related to sheer inefficiency and negligence in traffic management. I have to admit I have but little confidence in some of the traffic policemen in the way they give direction to traffic running at rush hours. Some of them obviously lack a sense of judgement and often worsen the situation with their poor discretions. Besides, traffic lights are far from enough nowadays and Government should pay prompt attention to this. Another point is, at nearly all main road junctions at peak hours when traffic policemen are most needed to regulate traffic, they are always not there. This sort of poor arrangement must be remedied. The roundabout at Wongneichung Gap Road is one good example.
Also when several traffic policemen are on duty in the same vicinity, there seems to be no mutual pre-arrangement among them. One would agree with me if one just spends about 5 minutes standing at the junction of Argyle Street and Fu Ning Street in Kowloon City and watch the traffic goes or doesn't go. From this, some refreshing training programmes on road courtesy seem very necessary for both traffic police as well as for some drivers.
As everyone knows, another crux of our traffic problem is the shortage of roads. I feel Government is not doing enough to provide for this. Elevated through roads should be built in a place where land is limited. Take Tokyo as an example. In Hong Kong, an elevated through road on the Island from Kennedy Town to North Point along the waterfront is worth considering. In Kowloon, a similar type of road from Star Ferry to Lai Chi Kok and another one from Jordon Road Ferry to Kwun Tong would solve much of the problem.
I understand we are now told to rely more on public transport, but I really can't see how we could possibly do so with the present limited facilities offered. Hong Kong is years behind other cities of equal status in the type of public transport used. Besides the much talked-about underground, trolley bus, for example, should have long been introduced to replace the old fashioned trams we are now tolerating. These modern vehicles run faster, quieter and are less obstructive. If all these projects are materialized, residents in more remote low-cost housing and Resettlement Estates will get the greatest benefit.
Furthermore, the proposal innovated by Honourable SZETO Wai should receive more consideration which suggested to establish a centralized underground parking system at Happy Valley which is to be coupled with a shuttle bus service to carry office workers to their various working places in the town. There may be some technical difficulties involved but they are by no means unsurmountable. Hong Kong people, I am sure, are more anxious to see Government effort more in a positive direction to devise some long-term policy in tackling this transport issue instead of just asking the public to cut their toes to suit their shoes, which are by any yardstick obviously far too small.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks I support the motion. (Applause).
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu:- Mr. Chairman, I am the last speaker of today's debate; I hope that I would not be the least. I would first of all speak about Hong Kong's economic future.
Hong Kong's Economic Future
We are told that Hong Kong's interest may not be protected when Britain is negotiating the entry into European Common Market. We were also told that when Generalized Preference Schemes offered by the advanced countries was negotiated Hong Kong may be excluded. In other words, we would be treated as a developed area instead of a developing area. We are also told that if Hong Kong was excluded from the said Generalized Preference Schemes the effect will be disastrous to Hong Kong's economic future.
Being a British Colony, Hong Kong has a right to ask the British Government to look after her interest. It would be regrettable if Britain is incapable to do anything to save the Hong Kong's industrial or economic future. Up to now Hong Kong has contributed tremendously to the British economy by depositing enormous amount of money into British Banks in the United Kingdom. We also offer a good market for British products and facilities for British personnel and industrialists. So far Hong Kong has done its duty as a British Colony, yet Britain has done...
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