ENG-1996 — Page 306

TRANSPORT

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The expansion of public transport services has continued. The franchise for Citybus Limited was renewed for 10 years, and came into effect on September 1, 1996. New franchises to operate public bus services for North Lantau and the New Airport were also granted.

As a means of generating funds to improve ferry services, to cover ferry operating losses and to keep ferry fare increases in line with inflation, the Governor in Council has approved in principle a pier-development package that allows Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Company Limited to undertake commercial development above four new piers in Central District.

The Administrative Framework

The Transport Branch of the Government Secretariat, headed by the Secretary for Transport, is responsible for overall policy formulation, direction and co-ordination of internal transport matters. The Secretary is assisted by the Transport Advisory Committee, which advises the Governor in Council on major transport policies and issues. The committee has 14 appointed members, including the chairman and three government officials, and is supported by a Transport Complaints Unit, which received 13 887 complaint cases on traffic and transport matters in 1996. On local transport matters, the government is advised by the district boards, and their traffic and transport committees.

The Commissioner for Transport, as head of the Transport Department, is the authority for administering the Road Traffic Ordinance and legislation regulating public transport operations other than railways. Her responsibilities cover strategic transport planning, road traffic management, government road tunnels, carparks and metered parking spaces, and the regulation of internal roads and waterborne public transport. The Commissioner for Transport is also the authority for the licensing of drivers and the registration, licensing and inspection of vehicles.

While the Police Force is the principal agency for enforcing traffic legislation and prosecuting offenders, the Prosecutions Section of the Transport Department handles prosecutions involving safety defects found on buses, disqualifications under the Driving Offence Points System, and breaches of vehicle safety regulations and government tunnel regulations. In 1996, the section prosecuted 44 cases in respect of buses, 4912 cases for which disqualification was sought under the Driving Offence Points System, and 1 299 prosecutions in respect of breaches of tunnel and other regulations.

A Transport Tribunal, with chairman and members all appointed from the public and set up under the Road Traffic Ordinance, provides the public with a channel of appeal against decisions made by the Commissioner for Transport in respect of the registration and licensing of vehicles, the issue of hire car permits and passenger service licences, and designation of car-testing centres.

The Transport Department also operates an Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre which provides liaison with public transport operators on traffic and transport arrangements during serious traffic and transport disruptions, rainstorms and typhoons. The centre undertook nine operations in 1996.

The Director of Highways heads the Highways Department, which is responsible for designing and building all highways, their repair and maintenance, and also for studying new railway proposals.