XN000022-1976-11-24 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976

IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR DISABLED UNDER CONSIDERATION

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RESERVED SEATS AND OTHER PROVISIONS FOR THE DISABLED ON BUSES, TRAMS, SURFACE TRAINS AND FERRIES, AS WELL AS PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, BUS TERMINALS AND FERRY PIERS HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY A WORKING PARTY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO EXAMINE MEANS OF

IMPROVING TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED.

THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONSIDERING HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT AS MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS POSSIBLE AND, TO THIS END, IT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMITTEE ON ACCESS OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES,+ HE SAID.

MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SYSTEM, AS AT PRESENT DESIGNED, SHOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH THOSE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO ARE REASONABLY MOBILE AND ABLE TO NEGOTIATE STAIRS AND ESCALATORS,

TO THIS END, HE ADDED, THE STATIONS HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.

HE SAID THE QUESTION OF PROVIDING LIFTS AT MTR STATIONS FOR THE USE OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS HAS BEEN MOST EXHAUSTIVELY STUDIED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION AND THAT THE MATTER HAS ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED WITH UMELCO.

BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF COMPELLING REASONS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE NEITHER PRACTICABLE, NOR IN THE INTERESTS OF THE HANDICAPPED THEMSELVES, TO PROVIDE SUCH FACILITIES, HE SAID.

THE MAIN REASON WAS THAT THE MTR WOULD BE A VERY HEAVILY USED SYSTEM AND THE DEGREE OF CONGESTION AND MOVEMENT WOULD BE MORE THAN THOSE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPELLED TO USE LIFTS WOULD BE CAPABLE OF COPING WITH, AND IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE THE CASE,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+A SECOND REASON IS THAT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST STATIONS HAVE A CENTRAL PLATFORM, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE LIFTS DIRECT FROM GROUND LEVEL TO PLATFORMS, +

/THIS,