XN000022-1995-12-06 — Page 22

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Ferry services for Tuen Mun

Following is a question by the Hon Edward Ho Sing-tin and a reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Considerable inconvenience is often caused to residents of Tuen Mun when the Tuen Mun Highway is wholly or partially closed owing to traffic accidents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) it has any plan to expand the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier so as to improve the ferry service in the district; if so, when the plan will be implemented; if not, why not; and

(b) it has held any discussion with the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited about contingency measures to carry the large number of commuters to and from work during the closure of the highway; if so, what are the details?

Reply:

Mr President,

The Honourable Edward Ho is right. When there is a major accident on Tuen Mun Road, traffic flow could well be impeded resulting in congestion. When accidents occur, the Police try their best to get the traffic moving again as soon as possible.

Unless really long periods of delay are expected, the provision of special ferry services would not help because it would take at least an hour to mobilise extra ferries. Traffic on Tuen Mun Road should have returned to normal by then.

The busiest time at Tuen Mun Ferry Pier is during the morning rush, between 7:00 am to 9:00 am when there are a total of 27 sailings to Central and Wan Chai. There are more than adequate berthing facilities and queuing space to cope with demand.