ENG-2001 — Page 306

TRANSPORT

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A Transport Tribunal, set up under the Road Traffic Ordinance with a chairman and members appointed from among the public, provides 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 the designation of car-testing centres.

The Transport Department also operates an Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre which provides a focal point for liaison with public transport operators on traffic and transport arrangements during serious traffic and transport disruptions, rainstorms and typhoons.

Policy Objective and Transport Strategy

The Government aims to provide a safe, efficient and reliable transport system that meets the economic, social and recreational needs of the community, and is capable of supporting sustainability and future development of Hong Kong. It does this by:

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expanding and improving the transport infrastructure in a timely manner;

improving the quality and co-ordination of public transport services; and

managing road use to reduce congestion and promote safety.

In pursuing the transport objective of facilitating the mobility of people and goods in Hong Kong, the Government also ensures that this is achieved in an environmentally sustainable manner by seeking and supporting environmental improvement measures in transport-related areas.

The Government's overall transport objectives, promulgated in the comprehensive Transport Strategy in October 1999, are to ensure that the safe, efficient and reliable transport system is not only maintained in the years ahead but also improved significantly.

It drew up the Transport Strategy to achieve the objectives by:

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better integration of transport and land use planning;

⚫ better use of railways as the backbone of the passenger transport system;

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better public transport services and facilities;

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better use of advanced technologies in transport management; and

better environmental protection.

Railway Development and RDS-2000

Railways play a key role in the above strategy as they are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly mass carriers. The Government, therefore, accords priority to railway development.

About $100 billion has been committed to six new railways scheduled for completion between 2002 and 2007. They are the West Rail, the MTR Tseung Kwan O Extension, the Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Rail Link, the KCR Tsim Sha Tsui Extension, the Penny's Bay Rail Link and the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line.

To meet Hong Kong's increasing transport needs in a sustainable manner for the next two decades, the Government has formulated the Railway Development Strategy 2000 (RDS-2000) based on the findings of the Second Railway Development