XN000022-1995-11-08 — Page 48

- 18.

Parking spaces for hearses

Following is a question by the Hon Elizabeth Wong and a reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma. in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of the following:

(a) what is the policy on the provision of parking spaces for the hearses fleets of funeral parlours;

(b) does the Government intend to designate parking spaces outside funeral parlours specifically for the parking of hearses; if not, why not; and

(c) what is the position regarding the designation of car parking spaces for funeral parlours; and with specific reference to the Funeral Parlour at Hung Hom, what measures has the Government adopted to resolve the parking problem there and when were such measures taken?

Reply:

Mr President.

Hearses are registered as light goods vehicles under the Road Traffic Ordinance. There are about 100 such vehicles owned by the operators of funeral parlours, other business concerns connected with this trade or individuals.

Funeral parlours either have on-site parking spaces for their fleet of hearses or have made other alternative arrangements for parking them at night. for example, in nearby carparks. As for the other hearses they can be parked on street in parking spaces designated 'P' under Schedule One of the Road Traffic (Parking) Regulations, that is, spaces earmarked for private cars and light goods vehicles.

It is not practical to designate specific parking spaces for hearses even outside funeral parlours. To do so would result in an uneconomical use of road space. However, where space is available, lay-bys are provided immediately outside or in the vicinity of funeral parlours and these can be used by hearses.