TNAG-0807-FCO40-1012-Policy-for-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 92

G.S. 84

RESTRICTED

For discussion

on 14th February 1978

HKK 360/3.

XCR(78)46 33 Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IND

HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978

FEB 678

1

INSTE

CONTROL OF PARKING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES

30. $1

ર

Introduction

A regular problem in the management of public housing estates is the unauthorised parking of vehicles within estates. The policy of the Housing Authority is to regulate and charge for parking in streets, concourses or parking spaces in public housing estates marked out by the Housing Department for such purpose. In a number of estates, this is done by renting out parking spaces in side-streets and by providing parking spaces for residents in car parks within estates at a monthly fee.

The Problem

2

However, streets in the majority of estates; especially the former Government Low Cost Housing and Resettlement estates, are through roads where the responsibility of installing parking meters to regulate on-street parking lies with the Commissioner for Transport, and the authority for enforcement of the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Construc- tions) Ordinance (Chapter 237) lies with Traffic Wardens and police officers. Because police capacity is restricted by other priorities, almost all estates with through roads suffer, in varying degrees, from the indiscriminate parking of vehicles by both public housing residents and non-residents, particularly at night. Apart from creating a nuisance, there have been instances where the unauthorised parking of vehicles has prevented emergency vehicles from reaching the site of an emergency quickly.

Proposal

3

It is proposed to make the Housing Authority responsible for providing and managing car parks in Housing Authority estates and for the control of parking on certain estate roads in such estates. Authority would be given powers to control access to these roads, to charge fees for parking, to impound or remove and detain vehicles illegally parked on these roads or in car parks, to charge fees for the release of such vehicles and to dispose of, by sale or otherwise, detained vehicles which are not claimed. The Housing (Amendment) Bill 1978 at Annex gives effect to these proposals, which have the support of the Housing Authority, the Transport Department, the Public Works Department and the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.

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