XN000022-1983-02-28 — Page 5

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1983

NEW ROAD TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION

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THE SPIRIT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PROPER CONSULTATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ON LOCAL PROBLEMS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

+A NEW SLIP ROAD IN SAN PO KONG, OPENED TODAY, IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE THAT A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES IS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

THE KING HONG STREET, WHICH CONNECTS KING FUK STREET AND THE UP-RAMP OF THE AIR CARGO TERMINAL FLYOVER, WAS OPENED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS (WORKS), MR NICKY CHAN, THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION ADVISER, DR NIP KAM-FUN, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD'S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE, DR CONRAD LAM, AT A CEREMONY THIS AFTERNOON.

THE ROAD WAS DESIGNED TO MINIMISE INTERFERENCE TO THE FAST- MOVING TRAFFIC ON THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD UNDER THE FLYOVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WORK ON THE ROAD WAS COMMENCED LAST APRIL AND COMPLETED EARLY THIS MONTH.

HE SAID SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED IN THE DISTRICT FOR YEARS.

IN JULY 1981, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE TOOK UP THE ISSUE AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT FOR A SOLUTION.

SEVERAL PROPOSALS WERE PUT FORWARD, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO CONSTRUCT AN EXIT ROAD FROM SZE MEI STREET INTO PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, HE SAID.

AN IN-DEPTH STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BUT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED DOWN ON GROUNDS OF SAFETY, SUCH AS VISIBILITY COULD BE OBSTRUCTED BY THE COLUMNS OF THE FLYOVER LEADING TO THE AIRPORT, HE ADDED.

OTHER PROPOSALS WERE RAISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, AND EVENTUALLY IT WAS AGREED TO BUILD A SLIP ROAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC FROM KING FUK STREET ONTO THE UP-RAMP OF THE FLYOVER, HE SAID.

ALSO ATTENDING TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR IAN STRACHAN, HIGHWAYS OFFICE OFFICIALS, AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND AREA COMMITTEES.

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