Page 210 of 312
396
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Last year I spoke of bottlenecks at road junctions and their effect on traffic congestion. Approval has been given to begin work on fly-overs at Waterloo Road, at the Roxy roundabout, at the foot of Garden Road, and on Harcourt Road, but there are many others which should be put in hand as soon as possible.
It is a pity that so few cost-benefit studies of road improvements are made, for these would prove that the costs would very often be recovered in a very short time in benefits to the public in terms of savings in time, fuel, tyre wear, depreciation and accidents. Government seems to find it difficult to realize that in trying to save a few million dollars on paper, it costs people of all classes very much more and these are not even real savings, for the improvements will have to be carried out eventually, at a much greater cost.
Two of our colleagues have recently signed a petition claiming that the Kowloon Motor Bus Company is not giving an adequate and efficient service. A long list of alleged deficiencies is given, but nowhere is it recognized that the inadequacies may be due to other causes such as congestion and the long delays at sub-standard roundabouts. However many more buses are put on the roads, they will still be held up for long periods at the Kowloon City roundabout, at Waterloo Road, at the Nairn Road-Chatham Road crossing and elsewhere. Government is going to find it difficult to penalize a bus company for inadequate services, if it is itself largely responsible for that inadequacy.
More buses and better management will obviously help, but no major improvement will be effected until we have a rapid transit system, independent of our roads. I think this is now generally recognized, and Government has accepted the Advisory Committee's recommendation that the feasibility of an underground railway system be investigated.
In the Traffic Advisory Committee, one of the most disturbing things brought to light is the extreme shortage of parking spaces in the Central District which we are likely to experience in a few years' time. If we assume that the increased demand will be the same as the growth of traffic generally, the deficit in 1968 will be about 2,800 places and by the end of 1970, after the closure of the Murray Barracks car park, about 5,000. These figures do not include the extra 6,000 or so cars from Kowloon, which will expect to find parking space in the Central District, if a cross-harbour tunnel is built.
The most frightening part of the report on parking was the footnote which read, "It is assumed that no further multi-storey car-parks will be constructed within the period", that is between now and the end of 1970.
I find Government's attitude in this matter incomprehensible and indefensible. Does it seriously think that it can turn the clock back and "disinvent" the motor car? With the continued deterioration of bus and tram services, the tendency will be for more and more people to use private cars for travelling to work. Until Government provides a public transport system that is fast, comfortable and convenient, it must try to cater for an increasing number of private and public cars. It would be quite unjustifiable for Government officials to reserve for themselves free parking spaces, and say to the rest of us, "You must use public transport, because we intend making it impossible for you to use your car". This would be hypocrisy of the rankest sort, the "I'm all right, Jack" philosophy at its worst. And the sad thing about it of course is that it will not work because the refusal to provide parking spaces will not prevent people using their cars. They will come into town and park illegally, they will double-park and hold up traffic, they will park in places reserved for high Government officers, and if the Police try to prevent them, they will say, "Where else can I park?" and the Police will have no answer. (Laughter).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
397
Politics. Usually before closing, I say a few words on politics, and I am sure my friends across the table would be keenly disappointed if I did not do so to-day.
Let me first of all congratulate them on the break-up of the somewhat dreary Reform-Civic Coalition, (Laughter) an association which has done more to put back the clock of democracy in Hong Kong than anything else. Let me urge them to make the break a significant one, with fresh new policies, instead of the rather worn-out clichés which have steadily lost them votes. Spokesmen of the Labour Party have emphasized that it is not going to force constitutional changes on Hong Kong unless it is clearly the will of the people. The results of recent Urban Council elections have shown quite definitely that the people are against anything which would result in Hong Kong being torn apart in ideological battles.
In view of this, may I repeat the suggestion I made three years ago, that elected members make it clear that they would accept nomination to higher office if it was offered. Their ability to serve the public would be no less, they would retain their opinions and their knowledge of "what the public wants." Let me repeat what I said in 1961. “If this were adopted, paradoxically the principle of elected representation would receive a very strong stimulus. No longer would the Urban Council appear to the elected members as a dead-end street, many more candidates would be attracted and the elections would really mean something once again. With the added interest and dignity of the Urban Council as the proving ground for the higher councils, Government might well give it wider powers, until it eventually becomes a full Municipal Council." I have worked with the elected members for more than seven years and I know that they bring to their work, energy,
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Page 210 of 312
396
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Last year I spoke of bottlenecks at road junctions and their effect on traffic congestion. Approval has been given to begin work on fly- overs at Waterloo Road, at the Roxy roundabout, at the foot of Garden Road, and on Harcourt Road, but there are many others which should be put in hand as soon as possible.
It is a pity that so few cost-benefit studies of road improvements are made, for these would prove that the costs would very often be recovered in a very short time in benefits to the public in terms of savings in time, fuel, tyre wear, depreciation and accidents. Govern- ment seems to find it difficult to realize that in trying to save a few million dollars on paper, it costs people of all classes very much more and these are not even real savings, for the improvements will have to be carried out eventually, at a much greater cost.
Two of our colleagues have recently signed a petition claiming that the Kowloon Motor Bus Company is not giving an adequate and efficient service. A long list of alleged deficiencies is given, but no- where is it recognized that the inadequacies may be due to other causes such as congestion and the long delays at sub-standard roundabouts. However many more buses are put on the roads, they will still be held up for long periods at the Kowloon City roundabout, at Waterloo Road, at the Nairn Road-Chatham Road crossing and elsewhere. Govern- ment is going to find it difficult to penalize a bus company for inade- quate services, if it is itself largely responsible for that inadequacy.
More buses and better management will obviously help, but no major improvement will be effected until we have a rapid transit system, independent of our roads. I think this is now generally recognized, and Government has accepted the Advisory Committee's recommendation that the feasibility of an underground railway system be investigated.
In the Traffic Advisory Committee, one of the most disturbing things brought to light is the extreme shortage of parking spaces in the Central District which we are likely to experience in a few years time. If we assume that the increased demand will be the same as the growth of traffic generally, the deficit in 1968 will be about 2,800 places and by the end of 1970, after the closure of the Murray Barracks car park, about 5,000. These figures do not include the extra 6,000 or so cars from Kowloon, which will expect to find parking space in the Central District, if a cross-harbour tunnel is built.
The most frightening part of the report on parking was the footnote which read, "It is assumed that no further multi-storey car-parks will be constructed within the period", that is between now and the end of 1970.
I find Government's attitude in this matter incomprehensible and indefensible. Does it seriously think that it can turn the clock back
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
397
and "disinvent" the motor car? With the continued deterioration of bus and tram services, the tendency will be for more and more people to use private cars for travelling to work. Until Government provides a public transport system that is fast, comfortable and convenient, it must try to cater for an increasing number of private and public cars. It would be quite unjustifiable for Government officials to reserve for themselves free parking spaces, and say to the rest of us, "You must use public transport, because we intend making it impossible for you to use your car". This would be hypocrisy of the rankest sort, the "I'm all right, Jack" philosophy at its worst. And the sad thing about it of course is that it will not work because the refusal to provide parking spaces will not prevent people using their cars. They will come into town and park illegally, they will double-park and hold up traffic, they will park in places reserved for high Government officers, and if the Police try to prevent them, they will say, "Where else can I park?" and the Police will have no answer. (Laughter).
Politics. Usually before closing, I say a few words on politics, and I am sure my friends across the table would be keenly disappointed if I did not do so to-day.
Let me first of all congratulate them on the break-up of the some- what dreary Reform-Civic Coalition, (Laughter) an association which has done more to put back the clock of democracy in Hong Kong than anything else. Let me urge them to make the break a significant one, with fresh new policies, instead of the rather worn-out clichés which have steadily lost them votes. Spokesmen of the Labour Party have emphasized that it is not going to force constitutional changes on Hong Kong unless it is clearly the will of the people. The results of recent Urban Council elections have shown quite definitely that the people are against anything which would result in Hong Kong being torn apart in ideological battles.
In view of this, may I repeat the suggestion I made three years ago, that elected members make it clear that they would accept nomination to higher office if it was offered. Their ability to serve the public would be no less, they would retain their opinions and their knowledge of "what the public wants." Let me repeat what I said in 1961. “If this were adopted, paradoxically the principle of elected representation would receive a very strong stimulus. No longer would the Urban Council appear to the elected members as a dead-end street, many more candidates would be attracted and the elections would really mean something once again. With the added interest and dignity of the Urban Council as the proving ground for the higher councils, Govern- ment might well give it wider powers, until it eventually becomes a full Municipal Council." I have worked with the elected members for more than seven years and I know that they bring to their work, energy,
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