XN000022-1994-11-16 — Page 51

27

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994

MEASURES TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AT COVERED TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES

* * *

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON FRED LI WAH-MING AND A REPLY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

IN

1994, THE

QUESTION IN HIS REPLY TO A WRITTEN QUESTION ON AIR POLLUTION IN LAM TIN INTERCHANGE ON JANUARY 26, 1994, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS STATED THAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS OF THAT AREA HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT. RESPONSE TO ANOTHER WRITTEN QUESTION ON OCTOBER 26, HE INDICATED THAT THE STUDY COMMISSIONED BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) TO EXAMINE THE DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR COVERED TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN MAY 1994. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN MOST COVERED BUS INTERCHANGES, EVEN WHEN OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, WERE UNABLE TO SUPPLY ADEQUATE FRESH AIR TO WAITING PASSENGERS. IN VIEW OF THIS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

IN

OF THE REASON WHY THE EXISTING MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF AIR POLLUTION COVERED TRANSPORT EXCHANGES;

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THE EPD HAS PLANNED ΤΟ SET UP ENCLOSED WAITING PLATFORMS IN THE TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE IN EITHER LAM TIN OR TSUEN WAN NEXT YEAR ON A TRIAL BASIS AND HAS ALREADY APPLIED FOR FUNDS FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PROJECT. WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR THIS PILOT SCHEME ; AND WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE INVOLVED IF THE PILOT SCHEME IS TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL COVERED BUS TERMINALS ON THE GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE TERRITORY:

OF

WHAT OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IF THE RESULTS OF THE PILOT SCHEME TURN OUT то BE UNSATISFACTORY; AND

AS THE PILOT SCHEME WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED TILL NEXT YEAR, WHAT SPECIFIC SHORT-TERM MEASURES WILL BE PUT IN PLACE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN THE INTERIM?

/REPLY: