XN000022-1995-03-08 — Page 59

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Border crossing points

Following is a question by the Hon James Tien Pei-chun and a reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to a research report produced by the Transport Branch, it is estimated that the number of vehicle trips made every day via the border crossing points between Hong Kong and China will exceed 50,000 by 2000. Even if the three crossing points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok are open 24 hours daily, they will still be unable to cope with the soaring traffic volume arising from the ever-increasing demand for cross-border transport facilities as a result of the developments in the industrial and commercial sectors in the territory. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether :

(a)

(b)

it will consider opening new border crossing points; if so, what progress has been made in the study on opening new border crossing points and the construction of associated road networks; and

it has considered introducing joint checks by various concerned departments and other measures which will further streamline the border-crossing procedures?

Reply:

Mr President,

(a)

May I first clarify that the Administration has not produced or published any research report on cross border traffic. However we do keep statistics and have estimated the growth trend. Our records show that in 1994 an average of 22,304 vehicles crossed the border each day using the three crossing points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. According to our projections, the combined throughput could rise to about 34,000 vehicle trips a day by the end of 1997 and to 46,000 by the year 2000. The existing crossing points should be able to cope with this demand up to 1997.