TNAG-1725-FCO40-2438-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 127

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 20 January 1988

through the Lion Rock Tunnel. These have been implemented on weekdays since mid-January and have resulted in an 11 per cent increase in tunnel capacity in the morning peak hours. The second and final part of the study including other improvement measures will be completed in April.

A key to the success of all these measures is to encourage the use of public transport. To this end, the 'Bus Only' lane on Lion Rock Tunnel Road will be extended via Hung Mui Kuk Road to Che Kung Miu Road in May this year. This will further reduce the journey times of Kowloon bound buses in the morning peak hours.

Sir, with these improvements and full co-operation from the travelling public, I am confident that traffic congestion in the corridor would be reduced to a tolerable level before the opening of Tate's Cairn Tunnel in 1991.

MISS TAM: Sir, I thank the Secretary for a very comprehensive answer, but may I ask whether the forecast of a 37 per cent increase in vehicular traffic in 1991 over present levels has in fact taken into account the rapid rising trend of commercial vehicles using that corridor and catered for such needs?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT: Yes, Sir, the present projected 37 per cent increase in vehicular traffic takes into account the rising trend of commercial and goods vehicles over the same period. This, of course, is giving us concern because of the rising trend. It is one of the issues being looked at by the Second Comprehensive Transport Study and we hope by the middle of this year we shall have some further measures to consider how best to cope with these increased demands and ways and means of tackling them.

MR. ANDREW WONG: Sir, I am most satisfied in general terms with the Secretary's answer. I think it is the most comprehensive answer I have heard in years. I simply wish to refer to the Secretary's opening remarks in his answer. Will the Secretary, or perhaps the Chief Secretary, confirm if the Government is proposing in the White Paper to rename the constituency I represent from 'New Territories East' to 'North-East New Territories?'

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Mr. WONG, how do you relate that question to the original question or answer? (laughter)

MR. ANDREW WONG: Sir, it is in the Secretary's answer: "I take it that Miss TAM'S question on New Territories East actually refers to North-East New Territories".

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: I think, Mr. WONG, if you would put that down as a separate question in due time.

MR. JACKIE CHAN: Sir, with regard to paragraph 6, the Secretary for Transport said that 'other improvement measures will be completed in April.' May I ask whether there will be any other improvement measures apart from the extension of bus-only lanes on the Lion Rock Tunnel Road in May this year?