XN000022-1994-10-12 — Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994

THE STRATEGY IS NOW ALMOST FINALIZED AND THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, SINCE MOST OF THE EXPENDITURE ON NEW RAILWAYS WILL BE POST 1997, THEREAFTER WE WOULD ANNOUNCE THE STRATEGY PUBLICLY. I HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE VERY SOON.

THAT

AS REGARDS THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, WE UNDERSTAND THE GUANGZHOU TO ZHUHAI RAILWAY WILL RUN ALONG THE WEST BANK OF THE PEARL RIVER DELTA AND THAT IT WILL NOT HAVE ANY DIRECT CONNECTION TO HONG KONG. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT SHOULD NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT ON OUR PROPOSED NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES RAILWAY. BUT THIS IS PRECISELY THE SORT OF SUBJECT AND DETAIL WE WISH TO DISCUSS WITH THE CHINESE OFFICIALS IN THE CONTEXT OF IMPROVING COOPERATION ON INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS. AS THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS LAST

WEEK, WE WILL BE RESPONDING TO VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS FROM CHINESE

OFFICIALS IN THIS REGARD.

LIGHT RAIL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

* * * * *

FOLLOWING IS THE WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, TO THE HON ZACHARY WONG'S QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

THERE WERE 28 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES (LRVS) IN 1992, 21 IN 1993 AND 10 UP TO END SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, RESULTING IN A TOTAL OF 150 CASUALTIES.

NO LRV HAS BEEN WRITTEN OFF. ABOUT $1.8 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE ARISING FROM THESE ACCIDENTS. PART OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM INSURANCE OR DAMAGES CLAIMED FROM THE OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED IN THESE ACCIDENTS.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLYOVERS OR TUNNELS AT JUNCTIONS ΤΟ SEGREGATE LRVS WITH OTHER ROAD TRAFFIC IS NOT A PRACTICAL PROPOSITION GIVEN THE VAST LAND IMPLICATIONS, FINANCIAL EXPENDITURE AND OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS INVOLVED.

LRVS ARE GIVEN A DEGREE OF PRIORITY AT SIGNAL JUNCTIONS. HOWEVER, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT MONITORS ROAD TRAFFIC VOLUMES SO AS ΤΟ DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS.

AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE HAS RECENTLY CONVENED CONSIDER WAYS OF ENHANCING SAFETY AND HAS RECOMMENDED THAT

—

TO

(A) THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL TRAFFIC SIGNS AND SIGNALS ARE IN ORDER AND THE PHASING OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS APPROPRIATE;

IS

/(B) THE POLICE