XN000022-1985-11-28 — Page 26

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985

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COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT POLICY NEEDED

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON POON CHI-FAI TODAY

(THURSDAY) EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THERE WAS NO MENTION IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS OF GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS AND POLICIES CONCERNING PUBLIC TRANSPORT, OTHER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.

SPEAKING ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE POLICY DEBATE, HE STRESSED THAT NO SINGLE SERVICE SHOULD BE SPECIALLY FAVOURED.

+A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD BE ONE WHICH COVERS EVERY ASPECT AND WHICH CONTAINS DIVERS IF IED CONSIDERATIONS, SO AS TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN DIFFERENT MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND MAXIMUM UTILISATION, HE SAID.

HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

MR POON SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING PROJECT AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROUTE 5 LINKING SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE CONSTRUCTION OF MAJOR TRUNK ROADS MIGHT BRING ABOUT A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, HEAVIER TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC JAMS AND NOISE POLLUTION.

+TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS, THE DESIGN OF THE TWO ROAD SYSTEMS MUST THEREFORE BE CAREFULLY DEVISED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEIGHBOURING AREAS,+ HE SAID.

TO SOLVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM, MR POON SAID THAT APART FROM RESTRICTING THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, A COMPREHENSIVE AND OVERALL STRATEGY SHOULD BE ADOPTED.

THE STRATEGY SHOULD INCLUDE WELL-COORDINATED TOWN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION OF AND IMPROVED DESIGNS FOR ROADS, COORDINATION BETWEEN ROAD PROJECTS, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, A SYSTEM OF SCHOOL AND OFFICE STAGGERING HOURS, EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOL/ FACTORY COACH SCHEME, IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROPRIATE CAR-PARKING POLICIES AND PROVISION OF ADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.

ON EDUCATION, MR POON SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOSE NO TIME IN FORMULATING A POLICY FOR KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION SO THAT

IT COULD BECOME PART OF THE BASIC EDUCATION WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

WITH THE RISING STANDARD OF LIVING IN HONG KONG, KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION HAD ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED A NECESSITY FOR THE CHILDREN NOWADAYS, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO OFFER POSITIVE ASSISTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AND THE TRAINING OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, HE ADDED.

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