TNAG-0807-FCO40-1012-Policy-for-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 93

RESTRICTED

XCR(78) 46

2

-

The Housing (Amendment) Bill 1978

4

The Housing Authority is given the power to designate, with the approval of the Commissioner for Transport and the Director of Public Works, certain roads in housing estates as restricted roads, entry to which would be controlled (clause 4, new section 25A). The Authority is empowered to provide car parks in estates, and parking places on restricted roads, for vehicles owned or used by persons permitted by the Authority to enter restricted roads and park in those places; and to charge fees where desirable (clause 3), consulting the Commissioner for Transport and other Government Departments if necessary. Such fees would accrue to the revenue of the Authority. Control measures would be detailed under by-laws to be made by the Authority with the approval of the Legislative Council (clause 5). The power to remove and detain illegally parked vehicles and to sell detained vehicles which are not claimed by the owners is contained in clause 4, new sections 25 B and 25 C.

5

It is intended that the provisions of the bill relating to the control of vehicles on estate roads should be confined to enabling the Authority to control access to and parking on restricted roads. The Road Traffic Ordinance will still apply to all estate roads including, restricted roads and car parks in housing estates, except in respect of the matters for which express provision is made in the bill. The Authority will not have powers to deal with traffic accidents and other traffic offences within housing estates. These will remain the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police.

..

Financial Implications and Staffing

6

The capital cost of installing drop gates, guard houses and providing vehicles pounds, traffic aids and so on is estimated to be at $800,000. As regards recurrent staff expenditure, $4 million will be required annually for the employment of Clerical Grade Officers (as shroffs) and Security Guards for controlling access to and parking on estate roads. The initial capital cost and subsequent staff costs should, however, be recovered by income from the letting of parking spaces estimated to be at $5.2 million per annum. All expenses, whether capital or recurrent, (including staff) will be paid for by the Housing Authority and all revenue will accrue to the Authority.

Publicity

7

It is considered that tenants of public housing estates will. generally welcome proper regulatory measures to control the parking and movement of vehicles within these estates. Those tenants who are

G.S. 84

RESTRICTED