WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994
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TO TACKLE THE WORSENING TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THE TWO CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS WHICH ARE ALREADY OPERATING 30 PER CENT TO 40 PER CENT ABOVE THEIR CAPACITY DURING THE PEAK HOURS, THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS THE USE OF PASSAGE TAX TO INCREASE THE TOLLS TO $20 FOR PRIVATE CARS AND $8 FOR MOTORCYCLES FOR BOTH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING.
ALTERNATIVELY, USE OF TUNNELS BY PRIVATE VEHICLES CAN BE RESTRICTED TO ALTERNATE DAYS THROUGH AN ODD/EVEN LICENCE SCHEME.
IN THE MEDIUM TERM, IT IS PROPOSED THAT A QUOTA SYSTEM INTRODUCED TO LIMIT PRIVATE CAR OWNERSHIP. THE MAIN FEATURES ARE:
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A PRE-SET NUMBER OF CERTIFICATES OF ENTITLEMENT PURCHASE A CAR WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC TENDER.
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THE CERTIFICATE WOULD HAVE A FIXED LIFE SPAN. DISCOURAGE SPECULATION, THE CERTIFICATE MUST BE SOLD TOGETHER WITH THE CAR TO A NEW OWNER. IT CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER. IF A CAR WAS SCRAPPED, THE CERTIFICATE WOULD BE WITHDRAWN.
MR BARMA SAID: "THE QUOTA SYSTEM WOULD REDUCE THE NEED FOR FURTHER TAX INCREASES, BUT SHORT TERM FISCAL MEASURES WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED.
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ALSO IN THE MEDIUM TERM, IT IS PROPOSED THAT CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO REDUCE OR WITHDRAW THE TAX ALLOWANCES NOW ENJOYED BY COMPANY CARS UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE. COMPANY CARS NOW ACCOUNT FOR ONE-QUARTER OF THE PRIVATE VEHICLE FLEET AND 40 PER CENT OF PRIVATE VEHICLE TRAFFIC DURING PEAK HOURS.
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IN THE LONG TERM, THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS THE INTRODUCTION A PRICING SYSTEM BASED ON THE "USERS PAY" PRINCIPLE TO MANAGE USE OF ROADS SPACE.
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MR BARMA SAID: "ROAD PRICING IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN REGULATING TRAFFIC FLOW AT THE MOST CONGESTED AREAS AT THE BUSIEST TIMES.
"MANY BIG CITIES IN THE WORLD, SUCH AS LONDON, OSLO, STOCKHOLM AND SINGAPORE, ARE LOOKING TO ROAD PRICING AS THE SOLUTION TO TRAFFIC
CONGESTION.
"THE TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANCED AND OVERCOME THE PRIVACY CONCERNS EXPRESSED PREVIOUSLY.
"THE NEWEST 'READ AND WRITE' TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE A FROM THE EXISTING TUNNEL AUTO-TOLL NOW BEING USED BY SUBSCRIBERS.
"IT INVOLVES
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A SMART CARD LIKE THE MTRC TICKET INTO A TAG ON THE WINDSCREEN. NO RECORD OF A CAR'S PASSAGE MADE UNLESS THERE WAS A TOLL VIOLATION.
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STEP ON
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INSERTED WOULD BE
HE REALISED THAT PROPOSALS TO RESTRAIN CAR GROWTH ARE A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT AND THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE LIED IN BUILDING MORE ROADS.
SOLUTION
/HE SAID