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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1986
COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXI SERVICE RECEIVED BY THE TCU HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM 42 CASES IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER TO 103 CASES THIS QUARTER. MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS CONCERNED MALPRACTICE AND MISCONDUCT BY TAXI DRIVERS, SUCH AS REFUSING HIRE OR SOLICITING PASSENGERS, OVERCHARGING AND NOT TAKING THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE.
DURING THE PASSAGE OF TWO TYPHOONS IN JULY AND AUGUST, SIX CASES OF TAXI DRIVERS REFUSING HIRE OR DEMANDING EXCESSIVE FARES WERE REPORTED TO THE TCU.
MR RUMJAHN ADVISED COMPLAINANTS TO REPORT MALPRACTICES BY TAXI DRIVERS TO THE POLICE DIRECT AS THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IS THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR TAKING ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
CONCERNING SEA TRANSPORT, MR RUMJAHN SAID ROUTES OPERATED BY THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY SERVING THE OUTLYING ISLANDS ATTRACTED MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ON FERRY SERVICES LODGED WITH THE TCU. THE MAIN AREAS OF COMPLAINT WERE INADEQUACY OF SERVICE CARRYING CAPACITY, ERRATIC SERVICE, CONDUCT OF STAFF AND PASSENGER BOARDING ARRANGEMENTS.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROAD CONGESTION TOTALLED 359 CASES - 97 CASES ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 153 CASES IN KOWLOON AND 109 CASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
FACTORS WHICH WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ROAD CONGESTION INCLUDED VEHICLE OBSTRUCTION, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING MATTERS, INADEQUATE ROAD CAPACITY, ROAD WORKS AND HAWKER AND PAVEMENT OBSTRUCTION. OF ALL CASES CONCERNING VEHICLE OBSTRUCTION CAUSING CONGESTION, ABOUT 40 PER CENT WERE DIRECTED AGAINST PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES TOTALLED 107 CASES. THE MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN WERE PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER RECONSTRUCTION AND ITS RELATED TRAFFIC DIVERSION SCHEME, TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG LOCKHART ROAD, TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG MAN KAM TO ROAD AND ROAD SAFETY ASPECTS IN HANG HAU ROAD, SAI KUNG.
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND ROAD WORKS INCREASED TO 204 THIS QUARTER, COMPARED WITH THE 173 CASES LODGED IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. THE MAJOR AREAS OF COMPLAINT WERE DEFECTIVE ROAD SURFACE, MALFUNCTIONING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND DAMAGE D TRAFFIC SIGNS OR AIDS.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CASES ROSE FROM 136 CASES IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER TO 190 THIS QUARTER, MAINLY INVOLVING REQUESTS FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL PARKING, ABANDONED VEHICLES AND OTHER ROAD OFFENCES.
THE TRANSPORT