XN000022-1975-07-16 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1975

TRAFFIC WARDENS WIN PUBLIC RESPECT

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TRAFFIC WARDENS AND MOTORISTS IN HONG KONG APPEAR TO BE GETTING ALONG MUCH BETTER THAN BEFORE, DESPITE THE POPULAR BELIEF THAT THEY ARE NATURAL ENEMIES.

ACCORDING TO THE HON: JAMES ROBSON, SEGRETARY FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT, THE TRAFFIC WARDENS HAD WON THE RESPECT OF THE GENERAL COMMUNITY BY TRYING TO EXECUTE THEIR DUTIES BY EARNING THE PUBLIC'S CO-OPERATION RATHER THAN BY SUMMARILY ISSUING TICKETS.

+AS A RESULT OF THIS APPROACH, THE WARDENS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GAIN THE RESPECT OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND THERE IS NOW LESS ANTAGONISM BETWEEN THE MOTORIST AND THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, HE TOLD COUNCIL.

MR. ROBSON MADE THE REMARKS IN A REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ROGER LOBO ON THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THE SECTION OF CANTON ROAD BETWEEN HAIPHONG ROAD AND SALISBURY ROAD.

MR. ROBSON SAID THE POLICE WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AT THIS LOCATION.

REGULAR ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL PARKING WAS AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF SERIOUS BREACHES OF THE LAW, HE SAID,

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IT WAS ALSO EXPECTED THAT WITH THE OPENING IN SEPTEMBER OF THE FINAL SECTION OF KOWLOON PARK DRIVE A SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN PEKING ROAD AND SALISBURY ROAD - CONDITIONS WOULD IMPROVE SINCE THROUGH TRAFFIC WILL BE ABLE TO BY-PASS THIS SECTION OF CANTON ROAD.

MR. ROBSON EXPLAINED THAT NO WAITING SIGNS HAD BEEN POSTED ALONG THE STRETCH OF CANTON ROAD, BUT IT HAD PROVED DIFFICULT TO STRICTLY ENFORCE THE SIGNS AT ALL TIMES,

THIS WAS MAINLY BECAUSE OF HEAVY TOURIST TRAFFIC IN THE AREA IN THE FORM OF COACHES, TAXIS AND HOTEL CARS AND IT WAS NOT EASY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DRIVERS WHO WERE LEGITIMATELY PICKING UP AND SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND THOSE WHO WILFULLY DISOBEYED THE 'NO WAITING' SIGNS AND CAUSED OBSTRUCTION.

MR. ROBSON SAID THAT SINCE LAST MONTH, TRAFFIC WARDENS HAD STEPPED UP POLICING OF THE 'NO WAITING RESTRICTIONS IN TSIM SHA TSUI BY REDUCING THE SIZE OF THEIR BEATS BECAUSE OF INCREASING DISREGARD OF SUCH TRAFFIC BANS IN THE AREA.

HOWEVER, LIMITED MANPOWER PREVENTED THE PERMANENT STAT:ONING CF A TRAFFIC WARDEN ALONG THE PARTICULAR STRETCH OF CANTON ROAD.

IN THE OPINION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR. ROBSON ADDED, THIS STRETCH OF ROAD WAS NOT BADLY CONSTRUCTED COMPARED WITH THOSE IN OTHER AREAS OF KOWLOON, NOR DID THE COMMISSIONER CONSIDER IT PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TO MOTORISTS.

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