XN000022-1995-01-25 — Page 38

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Public transport has not lagged behind demand

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Samuel Wong Ping-wai and a reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

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According to the "Annual Traffic Census 1993 Report", the provision of public transport increased by just 25% over a ten-year period from 1983 to 1993. However, it was pointed out in the Report of the Working Party on Measures to Address Traffic Congestion that the number of daily trips had doubled in the past 20 years, whereas the population had only increased by one-third over the same period and the proportion of trips using private transport had increased by nearly 50%. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :

Reply:

(a)

(b)

Mr President,

of the reasons why the development of public transport services lags far behind the market demand; and

whether the inadequate provision of public transport services has led to the increasing use of private transport by the public, thus aggravating the problem of traffic congestion?

May I first point out, with due respect to the Honourable Member, that in his preamble he has not compared like with like. Firstly, Figure 5 in the Annual Traffic Census - 1993 Report depicts a 25% growth in the number of passenger trips made by public transport over the period 1983 - 1993. These figures do not relate to carrying capacities of the different modes of public transport over the same period. Secondly, the number of daily trips referred to in the Report of the Working Party on Measures to Address Traffic Congestion includes journeys by both public and private transport over a 20 year period.

I now turn to the two specific questions asked: