XN000022-1972-03-01 — Page 49

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wednesday, March 1, 1972

"Furthermore, the number of new vehicles being registered

each year is increasing at a rate of almost 15 per cent; and there is no sign as yet of any slackening in this rate of growth.

"So the problem is getting worse and unless something is done to contain it, we shall face more and more severe traffic congestion

in the urban areas as time goes on."

The Financial Secretary said that, despite Hong Kong's general financial position at the moment, Government could not afford to delay the introduction of a restraints policy on the private motorist,

Peak Hour Congestion

"And we believe we should begin now with a new parking policy,

for a large part of the congestion at peak hours is caused by commutere

who then take up parking spaces all day."

Mr. Haddon-Cave said that charges for the 3,600 spaces in Government multi-storey car parks in the central urban areas had remained unaltered since 1966. A further 900 speces were under construction.

"At present they do not even recover historical costs, let alone historical costs and recurrent expenses, let alone equate the demand

for spaces with their supply.

"As a consequence, there is no control of priorities and there

is additional congestion as drivers search for scarce parking spaces. Certainly, present charges do not achieve the established policy objective

of a fifteen per cent vacancy at peak hours.

*These car parks are filled day after day with cars driven in by commuters in the morning and drive out after work in the evening."

/During