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Parking
Several Members have referred to "park and ride" in the context of congestion. This proposal was advocated during our consultation exercise. We are actively looking for suitable "park and ride" sites. The Town Planning Board has recently approved an MTRC proposal to develop a transport interchange at Choi Hung MTR Station that will incorporate such facilities. We have earmarked $60 million as Government's contribution for this project and will be seeking funding support from Finance Committee in 1996.
We also have two related studies, progress on which, unfortunately, has slipped somewhat because of the very heavy workload in Transport Department. The Parking Demand Study is nearing completion and should be ready by the end of this year.
We recognise the existing shortfall in the provision of goods vehicle parking spaces. This is being addressed in the Freight Transport Study. Sites are difficult to obtain. One possible long term solution is the provision of permanent multi-storey lorry parks near the container port and in industrial areas. In the shorter term, we will do our best to provide lorry parks on short term tenancy sites.
Mr President, my colleagues and I look forward to working closely with the Transport Panel of this Council in the year ahead. I am particularly pleased that the Hon Miriam Lau and Hon Zachary Wong have been re-elected as Chairperson and Vice-Chairman of the Panel and that another 17 Members have joined the Panel. This demonstrates the tremendous interest and concern in the transport portfolio. We all share the same goal of improving transport services both in qualitative and quantitative terms. To achieve this we need to work in partnership.
Thank you, Mr President.
End/Thursday, November 2, 1995
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