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No plan to set up a highway patrol unit
Following is a question by the Hon Zachary Wong Wai-yin and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Last year, the authority concerned introduced measures to strengthen police patrol on Tuen Mun Highway in conjunction with the implementation of the bus-only lane scheme on the Highway. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
of the average monthly number of traffic accidents occurring on Tuen Mun Highway during the period when the above patrol measures were in force;
of the average monthly number of traffic accidents occurring on Tuen Mun Highway since the cessation of the above patrol measures;
whether, in comparing the answers to (a) and (b) above, the introduction of measures to strengthen police patrol will reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents; if so, whether similar patrol measures will be introduced on other expressways in the territory on a long term basis, so as to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents; and
whether, in the long term, the Government will consider setting up a highway patrol unit in the Traffic Branch of the Police Force?
Reply:
Mr President,
The Transport Department has designated a bus-only lane on Tuen Mun Highway since 25 March 1995. To familiarise drivers with the new bus-only lane, the Police strengthened its patrol on Tuen Mun Highway for 4 months since March 1995. The increased patrol was not dedicated solely to the prevention of traffic accidents.