XN000022-1989-10-23 — Page 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1989

WHILE RECOGNISING THE LEGITIMATE ASPIRATION FOR CAR OWNERSHIP, IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO MANAGE GROWTH TO A LEVEL WITH WHICH THE ROAD SYSTEM COULD COPE.

ANOTHER COMMON CRITICISM OF FISCAL MEASURES WAS THAT THEY

COULD ONLY PRODUCE SHORT TERN RESULTS.

MR LEUNG SAID STATISTICS. HOWEVER, SHOWED OTHERWISE.

"THE 1982 CAR RESTRAINT MEASURES REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS FOR FIVE YEARS. AND DESPITE RAPID GROWTH SINCE 1987, THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PRIVATE CARS IN AUGUST (1.E. 173,900) IS STILL BELOW THE PEAK OF 193.000 VEHICLES IN 1982.

"IT IS TRUE THAT FISCAL MEASURES REQUIRE ADJUSTMENT TO TIME TO MAINTAIN THEIR DETERRENT EFFECT. HE SAID.

FROM TIME

WHILE IT WAS ACCEPTED THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE MUST BE PROVIDED TO AVOID SEVERE CONGESTION. THE NEED FOR REGULAR ADJUSTMENT OF ROAD MANAGEMENT MEASURES SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THE SAME LIGHT, HE STRESSED.

MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE COMMENTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS AND BALANCE THE DIFFERENT SECTORAL INTERESTS.

"THE INTENTION IS TO SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER, DUE FOR PUBLICATION EARLY NEXT YEAR. A PACKAGE OF MANAGEMENT MEASURES IN THE OVERALL INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY WITH FLEXIBILITY то MEET CHANGING TRANSPORT DEMANDS AND DEVELOPMENTS, HE ADDED.

N

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF GOODS VEHICLE TRAFFIC WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL ROAD TRAFFIC. MR LEUNG SAID THE PUBLIC RECOGNISED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

THERE WAS GENERAL SUPPORT FOR MEASURES TO DISCOURAGE OF LIGHT GOODS VANS FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORT.

THE USE

TAXATION

RESERVATIONS. HOWEVER. WERE EXPRESSED ON USING MEASURES TO MANAGE THE GROWTH AND USAGE OF THE LARGER GOODS VEHICLES, HE SAID,

A COMMON VIEW WAS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY THE EFFECT OF SUCH MEASURES ON THE ECONOMY. AND OTHER OPTIONS ENCOURAGING MORE USE OF RAIL AND SEA FREIGHT TRANSPORT. GOODS DELIVERY OUTSIDE THE PEAK HOURS AND USE OF LARGER VEHICLES WITH EFFICIENT LOADING EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY.

IN RESPONSE TO SUCH COMMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS GIVING ACTIVE CONSIDERATION TO A COMPREHENSIVE FREIGHT TRANSPORT STUDY то ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. HE SAID.

MR LEUNG SAID PUBLIC REACTION TO PROPOSED MEASURES WAS MOST ENCOURAGING.

TRAFFIC

MANAGEMENT

/FEW DISPUTED