WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1982
6
+AN INCREASE EVEN TO 25 PER CENT IN HONG KONG FROM THE PRESENT 17 PER CENT, COULD BE COPED WITH ONLY OVER A VERY LONG PERIOD IN THE LIGHT OF OUR GEOGRAPHICAL LAYOUT AND THE FINITE CAPACITY FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE.
ON RESTRAINT ON USAGE, MR SCOTT SAID THE AIM OF SUCH RESTRAINTS WAS TO DETER USAGE AT PEAK PERIODS AND IN LOCATIONS OF CONGESTION.
IN HONG KONG, THIS PRESENTS UNUSUALLY DIFFICULT FEATURES.
VARIOUS MEASURES HAD BEEN TRIED WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, ODD AND EVEN DAY USAGE, WHICH ALLOWS A VEHICLE ONLY ON EVERY OTHER DAY TO GO INTO DESIGNATED AREAS OR ALLOWING THE CAR OWNER TO NOMINATE ONE OR MORE DAYS A WEEK FOR NON-USAGE, DESIGNATED BY A STICKER ON THE WINDSCREEN.
+WE CONSIDER BOTH THESE MEASURES TOO LIABLE TO FRAUD AND EVASION IN HONG KONG AND THEY WOULD REQUIRE A CONSIDERABLE ENFORCEMENT COMMITMENT, SAID MR SCOTT.
+THERE IS ALSO THE POINT THAT NOT ONLY WOULD EXISTING OWNERS OF TWO OR MORE MOTOR CARS AVOID THE EFFECTS OF SUCH MEASURES, BUT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THE PURCHASE OF MORE VEHICLES.+
MR SCOTT NOTED THAT MANY PEOPLE, DISPOSED TO ACCEPT THE CASE FOR RESTRICTIONS ON USAGE IN CONGESTED AREAS, ARGUED THAT USAGE SHOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED ON OPEN ROADS OR AT NON-PEAK TIMES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO STUDIED AREA LICENSING SCHEMES AND ROAD PRICING SYSTEMS INCLUDING CHARGING FOR THE USE OF ROADS BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC SENSORS FITTED TO VEHICLES AND ACTIVATED BY DEVICES IN THE ROAD. MR SCOTT DESCRIBED THIS AS AN ATTRACTIVE IDEA BUT NOT YET DEVELOPED ENOUGH TO TAKE WHAT WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC AND ENFORCEMENT PLUNGE.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY OF THESE FOR TWO MAIN REASONS - THEY ARE UNENFORCEABLE IN PRACTICE BECAUSE IN HONG KONG ONE CANNOT SATISFACTORILY DEFINE LIMITED CONGESTED AREAS OR PROVIDE ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS OR ALTERNATIVE ROUTES, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE AMOUNT OF FRINGE URBAN PARKING WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED.
+THE FACT IS THAT TOO MANY ROADS OVER TOO WIDE AN AREA ARE CONGESTED.+
ANOTHER TYPE OF RESTRAINT CONSIDERED AND DISCARDED WAS PEAK HOUR LICENSING, WHEREBY AN EXTRA LICENCE FEE IS IMPOSED ON VEHICLES WHICH OPERATE DURING STATED PEAK HOURS.
WHILE HE SAW THIS AS AN EVEN-HANDED APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM, FOR GEOGRAPHIC REASONS AND BECAUSE CONGESTION WAS SO WIDESPREAD, THE GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO APPLY TERRITORY-WIDE.
/+ANY MORE