WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2,
7
+THESE FIGURES SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL VEHICLE REGISTERED WE HAVE SPENT ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALONE AN AMOUNT THAT IS HALF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTING A FLAT IN PUBLIC HOUSING.
+ARE WE JUSTIFIED TO OPT FOR EVEN MORE EXPENDITURE ON ROADS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE MAIN USERS OF OUR ROADS ARE OWNERS OF PRIVATE VEHICLES, WHO NOW ACCOUNT FOR MERELY 17 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS? MR CHEONG ASKED.
THE HON BENTON CHEUNG NOTED THAT THE PROPOSED MEASURES WERE DESIGNED TO STOP THE GROWTH OF CONGESTION ON THE ROADS OF HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY IN URBAN AREAS.
IN HIS OPINION, WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO IS STOP CONGESTION ITSELF, THROUGH RESTRAINT OF OWNERSHIP TOGETHER WITH A PROGRAMMED ANNUAL REDUCTION OF THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS.
+TO AN EXTENT, WE ARE MISDIRECTING OUR ARROW AIMING AT THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF THE HEART FOR EVEN IF THE THREE BILLS SUCCEED IN REDUCING THE GROWTH OF CONGESTION, THE EXISTING ROAD CONGESTION HAS ALREADY REACHED THE CRISIS STAGE.+
HE AGREED THAT RESTRAINT ON OWNERSHIP MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE, BUT IT WOULD TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF ROAD CONGESTION AT ROOT LEVEL.
+WHY NOT RESTRAIN OWNERSHIP NOW AND CURB THE GROWTH OF CONGESTION REALISTICALLY?+ HE ASKED.
MR CHEUNG ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE EXPECTED ANNUAL REVENUE OF $1 BILLION SHOULD BE USED TO FINANCE THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MTR AND KCR SYSTEM TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY,
+THIS MUST BE DONE IF WE EXPECT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO TRAVEL WILLINGLY BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HE SAID.
THE HON MARIA TAM ACCEPTED THE PROPOSED PACKAGE ON THE GROUND THAT, BY THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, IT WAS THE ONLY FEASIBLE PROPOSAL AT THE PRESENT TIME.
BUT, SHE STRESSED, PLENTY MORE REMAINED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE OUR TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS.
IN HER VIEW, IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PERMIT AND ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF RESIDENTIAL COACHES AND MAXICAB SERVICES TO REMOTE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND TO IMPROVE EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
SAID MISS TAM: +WHETHER THE PROPOSED MEASURES WILL BE EFFECTIVE TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE CARS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
+WHAT IS CERTAIN IS THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ANSWER TO OUR TRANSPORT PROBLEM.
+ IN FACT THE NEED IS FOR OVERALL IMPROVEMENT.+
+