TNAG-1607-FCO40-22122-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 233

(Question No.9)

3.

on public light

buses and goods vehicles, so the restrictions

are not applicable just to taxis only.

Prof. POON: Sir, the Secretary just said that 24-hour stopping restrictions are occasionally imposed. Will this occasional imposition cause the public even greater confusion?

Secretary for Transport: Well, if we impose more restrictions making it 24 hours, I think the problem will be even greater. As I pointed out quite clearly in my reply, we want to cause the minimum inconvenience to our citizens and therefore, we would only impose a 24-hour restriction if there is a need, whether on safety grounds, traffic grounds, or for some other very important reasons For this reason we say that where technically it is possible to have a shorter period, we occasionally, depending on circumstances, put a 24-hour restriction.

(in Cantonese)

sometimes

Mr. POONA: Sir, since the Transport Department has imposed the

24-hour restrictions after consultation with

but

sometimes the DB is not consulted,

district boards,

will the Government

inform this Council what criteria are being followed by the

Transport Department as to whether the DB should be consulted or

not on this issue?

Secretary for Transport : As I pointed out in my reply, Sir, there are certain places such as approaches to tunnels, express- ways where it is absolutely necessary that we must have a 24- hour restriction and in these circumstances, we would not be

consulting the district board. But in cases where on traffic

grounds for example, it would be convenient for the majority of the citizens in a particular area to have the area designated as a 24-hour restriction period, and if it looks as though there could be disagreement from different sectors of the community, then in these circumstances we definitely would be consulting

the district board.

But on the other hand, the district board