TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1982
6
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO BE STRENGTHENED
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FROM THURSDAY (APRIL 1) THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY A VERY SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION OF ITS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES.
LATER IN THE YEAR THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE FURTHER REORGANISED WITH THREE REGIONAL OFFICES.
IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS, THE MAJOR PART OF THE PRESENT TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT BRANCH OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT'S HIGHWAYS OFFICE WILL COME UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT. FOR THIS PURPOSE THE GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, TOGETHER WITH THE STAFF OF THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISIONS, THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION, THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE DIVISION AND THE ROAD SAFETY DIVISION WILL BE SECONDED TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE SECOND PHASE WILL SEE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE REGIONAL OFFICES COVERING HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IN ADDITION, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S PLANNING DIVISIONS, WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ENLARGED, WILL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER UNDER A NEW TRANSPORT PLANNING AND RESEARCH BRANCH TO BE SET UP IN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE PWD HIGHWAYS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF HIGHWAY DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE.
COMMENTING ON THESE CHANGES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, SAID THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WILL BRING TOGETHER INTO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL ASPECTS OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. THIS CLOSER CONTROL WILL HELP TO STREAMLINE PROCEDURES AND SHORTEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION,
ALSO, THE SETTING UP OF THE REGIONAL OFFICES LATER IN THE YEAR WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
MR ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT ADDED THAT EACH REGIONAL OFFICE WILL BE HEADED BY AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATIONS IN HIS REGION. THEY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS WITHOUT REFERENCE TO HEADQUARTERS, AND THE CURRENT NEED FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED.
HE STRESSED THAT THE STRENGTHENING AND REORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD MAKE IT A MORE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT IN CARRYING OUT GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES AND IN COPING WITH THE GROWTH IN TRAFFIC AND DEMANDS FOR TRANSPORT.
C
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