XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 44

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1937”?

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PLANS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC SIGNS IN MORE AREAS

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THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERING REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC SIGNS IN MORE AREAS AS AND WHEN RESOURCES PERMIT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR LEUNG SAID TRAFFIC SIGNS HAD AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION TO PERFORM, AND IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT IN A DENSELY POPULATED PLACE WITH HEAVY VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC THERE WERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF THEM.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WAS RECOGNISED A YEAR OR TWO AGO THAT IN SOME LOCATIONS THERE WERE SO MANY SIGNS THAT ROAD USERS COULD BE CONFUSED AS A RESULT.

+FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE IN 1984, WHICH ALLOWED THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO SIMPLIFY SIGNING ARRANGEMENTS, TWO TRIAL AREAS, EAST TSIM SHA TSUI AND CAUSEWAY PAY, WERE CHOSEN TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SIGNS, + HE SAID.

ABOUT 350 SIGN PLATES IN EAST TSIM SHA TSUI HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 130, AND IN CAUSEWAY BAY 674 SIGN PLATES HAD BEEN REDUCED TO 281.

+ IN NEITHER AREA HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THE REDUCED NUMBER OF SIGNS IS INADEQUATE. NOR HAVE THE POLICE EXPERIENCED ANY ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS.

J

+IN VIEW OF THIS, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERING OTHER AREAS FOR THE SAME TREATMENT AND WILL BE CARRYING OUT FURTHER, SIMILAR EXERCISES AS AND WHEN RESOURCES PERMIT, MR LEUNG SAID.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RESOURCES WHICH COULD BE ALLOCATED TO THIS TASK WERE LIMITED AND IT WAS LIKELY TO BE SOME YEARS BEFORE THE WHOLE TERRITORY COULD BE COVERED.

FIVE BILLS PASSED ***

THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE MEMORIAL FUND BILL 1987, THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION

AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE PARTITION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WAS READ A SECOND TIME AND DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED.

THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO MARCH 18.

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