ENG-1989 — Page 258

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TRANSPORT

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HONG KONG's transport policy over the last 10 years has been guided by three main principles: to improve the road system; to expand and improve public transport, and to make more economic use of the roads.

The Second Comprehensive Transport Study has projected the growth in transport demand up to 2001, and has appraised transport infrastructure and policy proposals for dealing with the problems that will be confronted in meeting this demand. The forecasts in the study have formed the basis of the Green Paper on Transport Policy in which pro- - posals have been presented for public comment. Consultation on the Green Paper is now complete and a White Paper taking into account public views will be published early in 1990. The basic principles of transport policy have been reaffirmed, but continuing strong economic growth has placed more emphasis on the need to expand transport infrastructure and public transport services, and efficient management of the use of the road network.

The decisions to relocate Hong Kong's International Airport at Chek Lap Kok on western Lantau Island by 1997 and to build additional port facilities in the Western Harbour will have major implications on the transport system in the 1990's and detail- ed planning and implementation studies to integrate the new facilities have already commenced.

Meanwhile progress has continued on the construction of new transport infrastructure. The Eastern Harbour Crossing, comprising road and rail links, was opened to traffic in August and September 1989 respectively. The new Shing Mun and Junk Bay tunnels will be opened in 1990 whereas the Tate's Cairn Tunnel, a private sector project which is aimed to bring relief to congestion in the Lion Rock corridor, will be opened in 1991.

Other measures are being taken to improve the capacity and safety of the existing road network with the aim of reducing traffic congestion. These include a continuous programme of district and sub-regional planning studies to identify practical improvement measures and a new Area Traffic Control System, linking 170 sets of traffic signals on Hong Kong Island, to improve traffic flow.

Comprehensive Transport Study and Green Paper on Transport Policy

The Second Comprehensive Transport Study was commissioned in 1986 to project the growth in transport demand up to 2001, and to appraise the transport infrastructure and policy proposals for dealing with the various problems that will confront Hong Kong over this period. The study is the start of a continuing planning process. Its computerised planning model will be updated regularly to take account of changes in economic development and planning assumptions up to and beyond 2001. The study has projected