XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 32

30

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

THE PUBLIC ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE THE NEED FOR MANAGING USE MAKING EFFECTIVE USE OF ROAD SPACE: GIVING PRIORITY TO EFFICIENT AND ESSENTIAL ROAD USERS; AND MANAGING TRAVEL DEMAND LEVEL WITH WHICH THE ROAD SYSTEM COULD COFE.

ROAD

MORE

TO A

THE NEED ΤΟ

MANAGE

MR LEUNG SAID THE PUBLIC ALSO RECOGNISED GOODS VEHICLE TRAFFIC. NOW ACCOUNTING FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE TOTAL ROAD TRAFFIC.

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

THERE WERE HOWEVER. RESERVATIONS ON USING TAXATION MEASURES ΤΟ MANAGE THE GROWTH OF THE LARGER GOODS VEHICLES.

"WE WILL EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY THE EFFECTS OF SUCH MEASURES ON THE ECONOMY. AND OTHER OPTIONS SUCH AS ENCOURAGING MORE USE OF RAIL AND SEA FREIGHT TRANSPORT. GOODS DELIVERY OUTSIDE THE PEAK HOURS AND USE OF LARGER VEHICLES WITH MORE EFFICIENT LOADING EQUIPMENT.

"A FREIGHT TRANSORT STUDY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IS BEING CONSIDERED." HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE DIVIDED PUBLIC VIEWS ON ROAD USE MANAGEMENT. MR LEUNG SAID ALTHOUGH SOME RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR MANAGING THE GROWTH

THAT AND USAGE OF VEHICLES. A MORE POPULAR VIEW WAS

FISCAL MEASURES SHOULD APPLY ONLY AS A LAST RESORT AND PRIORITY SHOULD FIRST BE GIVEN TO IMPROVING THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

"THIS SENTIMENT IS PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE. HOWEVER,

.

WE MUST

ALSO BE REALISTIC.

"THE TRANSPORT

INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMME IDENTIFIED IN THE GREEN PAPER AND NOW ENHANCED SUBSTANTIALLY BY THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY-RELATED PROJECTS IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS EVER PLANNED AND WILL TAX THE ECONOMY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO THEIR LIMITS. HE SAID.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT ALREADY CARRIES 87 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL DAILY PERSON TRIPS. THERE WAS A LIMIT ON HOW FAR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ALONE COULD REDUCE PRIVATE CAR TRIPS.

"HENCE. WHILE RECOGNISING THE LEGITIMATE ASPIRATION FOR CAR OWNERSHIP. WE MUST PURSUE ROAD MANAGEMENT MEASURES TO CONTAIN VEHICLE GROWTH AND USAGE TO A LEVEL WITH WHICH THE ROAD SYSTEM CAN COPE, IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE DEGREE OF MOBILITY." MR LEUNG SAID.

131