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Compared with the situation in 1990 when the Interim Development Permission Area Plans were introduced, haphazard proliferation of such uses on agricultural land has been put under control.
End/Wednesday, December 21, 1994
Statement on car growth
In response to press enquiries about the Motor Traders Association (MTA) statement yesterday that the average compound growth rate in private car numbers up to 2001 would be less than five per cent a year, the Deputy Secretary for Transport, Mr John Telford, said there had been a one-third increase in numbers of private cars over the last three years and growth was still continuing at the rate of about 10 per cent a
year.
Increases on this scale could not possibly be accommodated by Hong Kong's road system without there being serious consequences for everyone in Hong Kong.
With continued increases in disposable income, the Government had every reason to believe that the current upward trend in car ownership would continue.
Certainly the MTA's forecast, based on historical data, that growth would be less than five per cent a year was unrealistic.
Regarding the MTA's claim that the Government should respect the individual's right to own a car, Mr Telford said 90 per cent of Hong Kong people relied on public transport for their daily journeys.
They also had rights, and every additional car on the roads meant that less road space would be available for the buses they use.
More private cars meant slower bus journey times and ultimately higher fares. Unrestricted growth in car numbers would also seriously affect air pollution levels, which were already causing concern.