XN000022-1977-02-02 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977

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STREET LIGHTING

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS ENGAGED A LIGHTING EXPERT TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF STREET LIGHTING STANDARDS IN HONG KONG, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY.

HE SAID THE EXPERT WOULD SUBMIT DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TOGETHER WITH PROPOSALS FOR THEIR IMPLEMENTATION.

MR. MCDONALD WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM MR. ALEX WU WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THAT THE INTENSITY OF THE LUMINOSITY AT CERTAIN FERRY CONCOURSES AND TUNNELS AND PUBLIC AREAS IN SOME HOUSING ESTATES WAS LESS THAN OTHERS.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THIS AND HAD ALREADY ENGAGED AN EXPERT TO REVIEW CURRENT STANDARDS WITH A VIEW TO MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

HE SAID THE ADEQUACY OF STREET LIGHTING WAS DETERMINED BY ITS ABILITY TO SAVE AFTER-DARK ROAD ACCIDENTS, PREVENT CRIME AND PROVIDE FOR PEDESTRIAN AND AMENITY NEEDS.

+AREAS WITH PARTICULARLY HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOWS OR WITH A HIGH INCIDENCE OF CRIME REQUIRE BETTER STANDARDS OF LIGHTING AND SUCH AREAS ARE GIVEN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY THE HON. ALEX WU, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. DENIS BRAY SAID THE ANNUAL STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMME WAS DRAWN UP AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH KAIFONG AND LOCAL CIVIC LEADERS IN THE DISTRICTS.

+THESE CONSULTATIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BY THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS AND OFFICERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WHO WILL INCLUDE IN THEIR SUBMISSIONS SUGGESTIONS BY LOCAL PEOPLE TO PROVIDE NEW OR IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT, HE SAID.

THESE SUBMISSIONS ARE THEN EXAMINED BY A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WHO WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+THIS COMMITTEE IS WELL AWARE OF THE EFFECT WHICH GOOD STREET LIGHTING HAS IN HELPING TO REDUCE INCIDENTS OF MUGGING AND ROBBERY AND PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO CRIME BLACK SPOTS AND AREAS OF HEAVY PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WHEN DRAWING UP THE PROGRAMME, + MR. BRAY ADDED.

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