WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1980
27
MORE ECONOMIC USE OF ROADS URGED
****
MORE ECONOMIC USE WILL HAVE TO BE MADE OF THE EXISTING ROAD SYSTEM, AND IF UNAVOIDABLE, THE GROWTH OF VEHICLES IN USE WILL HAVE TO BE CURBED, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR MURRAY SAID HONG KONG WAS EXPERIENCING GROWING ROAD TRAFFIC CONGESTION DESPITE THE RELIEF TO THE ROAD SYSTEM RESULTING FROM THE OPENING OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
SPEAKING ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS, HE SAID VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS WERE NOW 40 PER CENT ABOVE THEIR LEVEL THREE YEARS AGO AND PRIVATE CAR REGISTRATIONS 50 PER CENT ABOVE THAT LEVEL,
HE REPORTED SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THE ROAD PROGRAMME. THE COMING YEAR WOULD SEE THE COMPLETION OF MAJOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, THE EAST KOWLOON CORRIDOR AND FLYOVERS AT CANAL ROAD, STUBBS ROAD AND THE JUNCTION OF POK FU LAM ROAD AND HILL ROAD.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID STARTS WERE BEING MADE ON THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR BETWEEN CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT, ON THE TAI KOK TSU SECTION OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR, ON THE COASTAL HIGHWAY FROM SHA TIN TO TAI PO, AND ON THE COMPLETION OF THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY,
CONSULTANTS, HE SAID, WOULD FINALISE THEIR REPORT ON THE EXPANSION OF CROSS HARBOUR LINKS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND CONSULTANTS WERE ALSO PROCEEDING WITH THE DESIGN OF A FIXED CROSSING TO LANTAU AND WOULD SUBMIT THEIR REPORT BY JUNE 1982.
+A STUDY OF A MAJOR NEW ROAD BETWEEN SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN WILL BE COMMISSIONED SHORTLY, THE GOVERNOR CONTINUED.
BUT HE TOLD COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT IT WOULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE THESE PROJECTS WOULD AFFORD SIGNIFICANT RELIEF TO HONG KONG'S INADEQUATE ROAD SYSTEMS.
+THE REPHASING OF SUCH PROJECTS FROM TIME TO TIME IN RESPONSE TO ECONOMIC NECESSITY HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN PRUDENT, BUT EQUALLY UNDOUBTEDLY THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY IN TERMS OF CONVENIENCE, TIME WASTED, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IF IT IS ALLOWED TO GO TOO FAR, THE ATTRACTIONS OF HONG KONG TO SOME INDUSTRIAL INVESTORS,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR CONTINUED: +MEANWHILE MORE ECONOMIC USE WILL HAVE TO BE MADE OF THE EXISTING ROAD SYSTEM, AND IF UNAVOIDABLE THE GROWTH OF VEHICLES IN USE WILL HAVE TO BE CURBED,
+ IT IS THE UNENVIABLE TASK OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WRESTLE WITH THESE COMPLICATED, INTRACTABLE AND CONTROVERSIAL PROBLEMS AND ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. I AM SURE WE ALL WISH THE NEW UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMAN, MR T.S. LO,
EVERY SUCCESS.+
/TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS