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Shortage of parking spaces
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In view of the serious shortage of parking spaces in most parts of the territory and the high parking fees charged by car parks, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a)
(b)
it will consider providing spaces for overnight parking (say from 10 pm to 7 am) on relatively less busy side streets in various districts and installing special parking meters along the pavements of those streets so as to facilitate drivers, in particular professional drivers, to park their cars; and
it will consider building more car parks along both the Kowloon-Canton Railway and Mass Transit Railway stations to provide park-and-ride facilities with a view to encouraging people living in remote areas to use the mass transit systems, so as to alleviate traffic congestion?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
There are about 26,000 on-street parking spaces in the Territory, which can be used for overnight parking by motorists, including taxi and mini- bus drivers. In addition, there are about 600 on-street spaces which have been designated specifically for overnight parking of goods vehicles. They are located in Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long districts. In consultation with District Boards and other government departments, we will continue to extend the scheme for overnight parking to other areas where traffic conditions permit and where it is environmentally acceptable.
On-street parking meters are installed to regulate short-term parking demand during the day and in the evening. There are no special parking meters for overnight parking as they may cause confusion to motorists in the daytime when parking is not permitted.