XN000022-1982-05-05 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1992

THE NEW TRANSPORT BRANCH CAME INTO BEING ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1981, WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF, INCLUDING A TRANSPORT PLANNING UNIT WHICH PROVIDES THE TRANSPORT PLANNING INPUT TO THE OVERALL PLANNING OF LAND DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE.

THE AUGMENTED TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT CAME INTO BEING ON APRIL 1, 1982, WHEN MOST OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT BRANCH OF THE FORMER PWD HIGHWAYS OFFICE TRANSFERRED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. THIS INCLUDED THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION, THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE DIVISION, THE ROAD SAFETY DIVISION AND THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION.

+THE THIRD STEP TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICES, EACH HEADED BY AN ASSISTANT COMMISSSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN THE RESPECTIVE REGIONS OF HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES. EACH ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER WILL BE SUPPORTED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN THE TRANSPORT AND ENGINEER GRADES,+ MR SCOTT SAID.

HE SAID RECRUITMENT OF TWO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS IS IN PROGRESS AND THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN POST EARLY NEXT MONTH WHILE THE STAFF LEVEL BELOW THAT, INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE CREATION OF A NEW RANK OF PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, WILL BE DETERMINED LATER IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.

MR SCOTT SAID A FURTHER ASPECT OF THE REORGANISATION IS BEING PURSUED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WHICH IS THE LOCATION OF A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER IN THE AUGMENTED TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO FACILITATE CO-ORDINATION WITH THE TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS OF THE POLICE.

+A NEW POST OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE POLICE FORCE UNDER THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR (TRAFFIC) TO LIAISE WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT AND MY BRANCH ON BOTH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT, HE ADDED.