XN000022-1978-11-08 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1978

HONG KONG ROADS TO GO COMPUTER

******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING THE INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTERISED TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HONG KONG ISLAND,

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND EAST TODAY, THE ACTING PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, MR. FONG CHUN-NAM, SAID THAT A SIMILAR SYSTEM HAD BEEN IN OPERATION IN WESTERN KOWLOON FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.

MR. FONG SAID THE COMPUTER HAD PROVED VALUABLE IN MAKING MORE ECONOMICAL USE OF THE ROAD SYSTEM. THE METHOD CURRENTLY USED ON HONG KONG ISLAND WAS NOT AS EFFICIENT.

+ THE LINKED SIGNAL SYSTEM PRESENTLY BEING USED ON HONG KONG HAS THE WEAKNESS THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO CALCULATE THE FIXED TIME CO-ORDINATION PLANS ON THE BASIS OF PAST RATHER THAN CURRENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, WITH NO PROVISION FOR ADJUSTING SIGNAL SETTINGS TO TAKÉ ACCOUNT OF MOMENTARY FLUCTUATIONS IN TRAFFIC FLOWS,+ HE SAID.

+WITH THE HELP OF A COMPUTER, A WELL DESIGNED SCHEME COULD OVERCOME THE DEFICIENCY, RESULTING IN MORE EFFICIENT ROAD USE.+

MR. FONG ALSO REVEALED THAT THE P.W.D. WAS CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE STUDY ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

+THE AIM OF THIS STUDY IS TO DERIVE A NETWORK WHICH WOULD INCLUDE CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND TRAFFIC DETECTORS TO MONITOR TRAFFIC FLOW AND TO ENABLE THE SPEEDY DETECTION OF

INCIDENTS AND CONGESTION, HE SAID.

+THE NETWORK WOULD ALSO PROVIDE CHANGEABLE SIGNS TO ALTER SPEED LIMITS, DIVERT OR STOP TRAFFIC AND CLOSE LANES TO GIVE EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CONTROL IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

+SUCH A SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO BE INSTALLED ALONG THE WHOLE WATERFRONT FROM WEST TO EAST AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL NORTH TO SOUTH ROUTE.+

MR. FONG ALSO DETAILED OTHER ROAD DEVELOPMENTS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, INCLUDING THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL THE ELEVATED ROAD LINKING POKFULAM ROAD WITH THE WATERFRONT VIA HILL ROAD- THE WIDENING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD FROM HILL ROAD TO RUMSEY STREET AN ELEVATED ROAD FROM HILL ROAD TO HARCOURT ROAD A NEW COASTAL ROAD FROM VICTORIA PARK TO NORTH POINT- THE STUBBS ROAD FLYOVER AND AN INTERCHANGE AT THE JUNCTION OF ROBINSON ROAD AND GLENEALY.

/+WE ARE.....