TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 55

5

The

department had asked for this equipment

many times but was rejected by the

because of the cost. This

Finance Branch

is quite

valid reason because the crane is so costly

a

used and it is only probably once or twice a year.

But .in

the light of recent incidents

and bearing in mind the cost to the community, we do feel

there is a case for reconsidering the request and we are

now asking the Finance Branch to reconsider.

now

In the meantime we are relying on the commercial operators

to help. There are nine companies in Hong Kong with 34

cranes, mainly in Kowloon and the New Territories, and

these can be deployed but they take a long time, at least

one and a half hours to two hours, to come to the scene.

This is just not good enough, so we do need a crane

similar

at Lion Rock Tunnel to deal with situations in the future.

MR. EDWARD HO: Sir, in order for the public to be

immediately aware of congested corridors, will the

Government consider

firstly designating one radio

is done

channel for continuous traffic news as in some countries

aslin

in Europe; and secondly, displaying traffic.

congestion information along main traffic routes as is

'practised in Japan?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT: Sir, I think I have to

this to the Secretary for Administrative Services and

defer