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Closed road permit system on Lantau
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Wai-yip and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Representatives of the Transport Department advised me in June 1994 that the system for the issue of prohibited zone permits to private light buses on Lantau Island would be reviewed. However, the outcome of the review is still not known up to the present moment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
the reasons for the Department's delay in completing the review; and
the exact date for the completion of the review?
Mr President,
The Closed Road Permit System on Lantau was introduced in 1973 to regulate the number of vehicles on Lantau Island because of limited road capacity on the island. The system applies to all classes of motor vehicles.
For private light buses, permits are only issued where the need for such vehicles The has been justified e.g. for school transport or to cater for tourist groups. Commissioner for Transport also takes into account other factors such as the availability of parking facilities and the adequacy of public transport.
The Closed Road Permit System on Lantau is reviewed periodically. The latest review was completed at the end of February this year and the conclusion reached, having regard to the prevailing traffic conditions and the afore-mentioned factors, was that the present Closed Road Permit System should continue. This review could not be conducted earlier because of other priorities of work in the Transport Department.
End