(Translation)

Minutes of the 10th Meeting of Traffic and Transport Committee, the 5th Term District Council

Date: 6 June 2017 (Tuesday) Time: 2:30 p.m. Venue: Conference Room, Office, Unit 05-07, 20/F Millennium City 6, 392 , Kwun Tong, Kowloon

Present:

Members

Ms SO Lai-chun, MH, JP (Chairman) Mr HSU Hoi-shan Mr CHEUNG Pui-kong (Vice-chairman) Mr HUNG Kam-in, Kin Mr AU YEUNG Kwan-nok Mr KAN Ming-tung Mr BUX Sheik Anthony Mr LAI Shu-ho, Patrick, BBS, MH, JP Dr CHAN Chung-bun, Bunny, GBS, JP Mr LUI Tung-hai Mr CHAN Kok-wah, Ben, BBS, MH Mr MA Yat-chiu, Marco Mr CHAN Man-kin Mr MOK Kin-shing Mr CHAN Wah-yu, Nelson, MH Mr NGAN Man-yu Mr CHAN Yiu-hung, Jimmy Mr OR Chong-shing, Wilson, MH Mr CHENG Keng-ieong Mr TAM Siu-cheuk Mr CHENG Keung-fung Mr TANG Wing-chun Mr CHEUNG Ki-tang Ms TSE Suk-chun Mr CHEUNG Shun-wah Mr WONG Chi-ken Mr CHEUNG Yiu-pan Mr WONG Chun-ping Mr CHOY Chak-hung Mr YIP Hing-kwok, MH, JP Ms FU Pik-chun Mr YIU Pak-leung, Perry Mr HO Kai-ming, Jonathan

Co-opted Members

Ms BUT Yee Mr KWONG Sing-yu Mr FUNG Wang-yui Mr LING Chi-keung Mr HUI Chin-pang

1 Representatives of Government Departments

Mr CHIU Kwong-kin Assistant District Officer (Kwun Tong)2, Kwun Tong District Office Mr LEE Yin-bun, Philip Senior Executive Officer (District Council), Kwun Tong District Office Mr LIU Kin-wai, Rick Senior Transport Officer/Kwun Tong, Transport Department Miss TANG Wai-ting, Wendy Engineer/Kwun Tong 1, Transport Department Mr CHAN Wai-hong District Engineer/Kwun Tong, Highways Department Mr AU Kwong-yui Representative, Kwun Tong District, Police Force Mr HO Chi-kin Representative, Sau Mau Ping District, Hong Kong Police Force

Representatives Present to Assist Discussion of Agenda Items

Agenda Item II – Proposed Footbridge near MTR Station Exit B

Mr WONG Ching-tung Senior Engineer/Hong Kong 1, Works Division, Highways Department Ms LAM Sze-wing Engineer/Hong Kong 1-4, Works Division, Highways Department Mr TSE Mang-hin Senior Works Consolidation Manager, Energizing Kowloon East Office, Development Bureau Mr Calvin LI Technical Director, Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Limited Mr CHAN Chun-hing Engineer, Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Limited [transliteration]

Agenda Item VI – Kai Tak Development: Infrastructure Works at the Former Runway and South Apron

Mr CHAN Ping-wa, Edmund Acting Chief Engineer/Kowloon 1, Civil Engineering and Development Department Mr LEE Wai-man, Raymond Chief Engineer/Kowloon 2, Civil Engineering and Development Department Mr LEUNG Kam-ying, John Senior Engineer/4, Civil Engineering and Development Department

2 Mr SIU Wai-chung, Ronald Senior Engineer/15, Civil Engineering and Development Department Mr AU YEUNG Ho-shun, Representative, AECOM Asia Company Limited Vincent

Secretary

Mr Albert Junior CHOW Executive Officer (District Council)4, Kwun Tong District Office

Absent:

Members

Mr CHAN Chun-kit Mrs POON YAM Wai-chun, Winnie, MH Ms KAM Kin Mr SO Koon-chung, Kevin

Co-opted Members

Mr AU YEUNG Wai-lun, Kelvin

Opening Remarks

The Chairman welcomed Members and departmental representatives to the meeting.

I. Confirmation of Minutes of Last Meeting

2. The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed without amendment.

II. Proposed Footbridge near MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit B (KTDC TTC Paper No. 14/2017)

3. The Chairman welcomed Mr WONG Ching-tung, Senior Engineer/Hong Kong 1, Ms LAM Sze-wing, Engineer/Hong Kong 1-4, Works Division, Highways Department (“HyD”); Mr TSE Mang-hin, Senior Works Consolidation Manager, Energizing Kowloon East Office (“EKEO”), Development Bureau; Mr Calvin LI, Technical Director, and Mr CHAN Chun-hing, Engineer, Parsons Brinckerhoff (Asia) Limited (“Consultancy”), to the meeting.

4. Mr WONG Ching-tung of the HyD and Mr Calvin LI of the Consultancy presented the paper.

5. 10 Members raised the views and enquiries as follows:

3 5.1 A Members was in support of the proposed footbridge but was of the view that works should start as soon as possible and saw no need to align it with the completion of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (“EKCC”);

5.2 A Member was concerned about the impact arising from the removal of the existing parapet and the works to be carried out on the pedestrian traffic, which was already quite heavy;

5.3 A Member stressed that residents were in genuine need of the proposed footbridge which should be built as soon as possible, and saw no need to align it with the completion of the EKCC. Separately the Member urged the HyD to consider constructing a similar footbridge at Exit A;

5.4 A Member suggested that a barrier-free footbridge could be put in place at Exit A in the same vein as that at Exit B;

5.5 A Member wanted to know the projected completion date of the footbridge and which department would be responsible for its management after its completion;

5.6 A Member enquired about whether a staircase would be made available at the MTR station connecting the proposed new footbridge across Kwun Tong Road;

5.7 A Member remarked that the wheelchair lift towers at Exits A and B were unable to meet the needs of the local community, and the public was in pressing need of the proposed barrier-free ramp to be built at Exit B;

5.8 Members expressed concerns about the management of the footbridge after its completion, and called for the Department to set aside space to accommodate the layout of the monorail system to be built in the future;

5.9 A Member wondered whether the width of the proposed footbridge allow two wheelchairs to pass at the same time, and whether the pedestrian capacity of the proposed footbridge would be able to cope with the additional pedestrian traffic generated upon the completion of the EKCC; and

5.10 A Member wanted to know whether gradient requirements for the ramp could be met if a layout to shorten the length of the proposed footbridge was to be adopted.

6. Mr TSE Mang-hin of the EKEO responded by pointing out that they understood that Members would like the proposed footbridge to be built as soon as possible, and the expectation that a similar facility could be built at Exit A; both should be discussed with relevant government departments and feasibility studies were also required.

4 7. Mr WONG Ching-tung of the HyD added that the Department would prepare gazettal and conduct detailed designs simultaneously, before seeking funding from the Legislative Council (“LegCo”), and they would expedite each step in the process in order to kick start the building of the proposed footbridge at the earliest possible time. Separately, upon its completion, the footbridge would be managed by a government department as the proposed footbridge was a government project.

8. The highlights of the response by Mr Calvin LI of the Consultancy were as follows:

8.1 Due to space constraints, the section of the proposed footbridge near the MTR station would have a few steps, and barrier-free access would be put in place in the ramp connecting the existing footbridge and the proposed footbridge, which was designed to enable persons in need to cross Kwun Tong Road via the MTR station without having to climb any steps;

8.2 The Consultancy would hold discussions with the contractor and relevant government departments about the temporary traffic arrangements with a view to minimising any impact created during the construction period;

8.3 The width of the barrier-free ramp would allow two wheelchairs to pass simultaneously.

9. Four Members followed up and raised the following views and enquiries:

9.1 A Member hoped that the Department could work out measures to fine-tune the ramp, which was found to be a bit winding, and furthermore it was suggested that the ramp be widened as far as possible for the benefit of the public as well as wheelchair users;

9.2 A Member remained concerned about the impact stemming from the works and wanted to know the scheduled construction period;

9.3 A Member expressed concern about the appearance of the proposed footbridge including its night-time lighting; and

9.4 A Member remarked that the pedestrian traffic generated by the EKCC should not be underestimated and suggested that the Department actively consider the provision of a footbridge at Exit A

10. Mr TSE Mang-hin of the EKEO responded by saying that Members could put their mind at ease as matters related to the appearance of the footbridge would all be assessed by the Advisory Committee on the Appearance of Bridges and Associated Structures (“ACABAS”).

5 11. Mr WONG Ching-tung of the HyD responded by saying that the Department introduced the proposed footbridge plan to the Working Group on Access to Public Transport by People with Disabilities at its meeting on 18 May 2017, which had given its endorsement, and after that the matter would then be submitted to the ACABAS for comments.

12. Mr Calvin LI of the Consultancy responded by pointing out that efforts would be made to ensure that the lighting system met the prescribed requirements, and the maximum width of the ramp would be around two metres due to the constraints imposed by the connection between the ramp and the footbridge.

13. The Chairman concluded by saying that the Committee was in support of the construction of the captioned footbridge.

14. Members noted the paper

III. Progress Report on Road Projects in Kwun Tong (KTDC TTC Paper No. 15/2017)

15. Members noted the paper.

IV. List and Timetable of Major Traffic Improvement Works Completed, Being Implemented or Planned by the Transport Department / Highways Department in the Last Two Months (KTDC TTC Paper No. 16/2017)

16. Members noted the paper.

V. TTC Financial Statement for 2016/17 (KTDC TTC Paper No. 17/2017)

17. The Secretary presented the paper.

18. Members endorsed the paper.

VI. Kai Tak Development: Infrastructure Works at the Former Runway and South Apron (KTDC TTC Paper No. 18/2017)

19. The Chairman welcomed Mr Edmund CHAN, Acting Chief Engineer/Kowloon 1, Mr Raymond LEE, Chief Engineer/Kowloon 2, Mr John LEUNG, Senior Engineer/4, and Mr Ronald SIU, Senior Engineer/15, of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (“CEDD”) to attend the meeting.

6 20. Mr Edmund CHAN and Mr Raymond Lee of the CEDD presented the paper.

21. Two Members raised the views and enquiries as follows:

21.1 A Member was of the view that the road infrastructure for Kai Tak Hospital would be more effective if it was to be put in place in Kwun Tong District, and hoped that the Department and the Hospital Authority (“HA”) would thoroughly consider the route arrangements for ambulances to travel to and from the hospital and the local community; and

21.2 A Member would like to know the arrangements regarding the cycle track, and were concerned about the road network for the proposed hospital.

22. Mr Raymond LEE of the CEDD responded by pointing out that the Department had maintained close liaison with the HA with regard to the layout of the road network for emergency vehicles and the hospital, for example, the use of more roundabouts to allow emergency vehicles to make a U-turn.

23. Mr Vincent AU YEUNG of AECOM Asia Company Limited supplemented that Kai Tak Hospital was set up mainly to serve Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin District and Kwun Tong District, and elaborated the accesses to Kai Tak Hospital from Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin District and Kwun Tong District.

24. Four Members followed up and raised the following views and enquiries:

24.1 A Member enquired about whether emergency services of the hospital could be delivered within 12 minutes to people in Wong Tai Sin District;

24.2 A Member remarked that the TTC was very concerned about the ancillary transport services for Kai Tak Hospital now at the planning and design stage, having regard to the experiences the district had gained from previous efforts to improve the road network connecting United Christian Hospital and the local community. The Member pointed out that there would be no direct access for vehicles traveling along Prince Edward Road East to turn to the Kai Tak Development Area, and expressed concerns about the traffic between Kwun Tong District and the Kai Tak Development Area primarily on Hoi Bing Road, and invited the Department to take this into serious consideration;

24.3 A Member remarked that vehicles were allowed in the past to access to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal from Kwun Tong Bypass, but due to community development needs, now vehicles must take a turn and travel in the direction of Megabox, and in this connection the Member would like the Government to

7 offer other alternative shorter routes for vehicles traveling to and from the Kai Tak area; and

24.4 A Member remarked that at the moment the overall road traffic condition in Kwun Tong District during rush hours was disappointing, and hence traffic problems in the areas in question pointed out by other Members should all be addressed where possible at the planning stage. Separately, the Member wanted to know the cost and schedule of the works under the whole project.

25. Mr Raymond LEE of the CEDD responded by saying that regarding the emergency vehicles services, the Department would maintain liaison with the HA and relay Members’ concerns to the HA about the transport arrangements for the hospital when it came into service, with a view to further optimising the road network linking the hospital and various districts. Separately, the Department had worked out plans for a series of ancillary transport and road improvement works, in which the road works were in various stages of design and construction, and it was envisaged that their completion would bring convenience to residents from various districts to visit the Kai Tak Development Area. At the moment the proposed works were still in the stage of detailed design and gazette would be published shortly; when it came to the stage where funding was sought from the LegCo, a more specific work schedule and cost estimate would become available.

26. The Chairman thanked the government representatives to attend the meeting to brief them of the captioned works projects, and concluded by saying that the Committee was in support of the infrastructure works at the Kai Tak former runway and south apron.

27. Members noted the paper.

VII. Motion: Request for Retrofitting a Barrier-free Footbridge at MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A (KTDC TTC Paper No. 19/2017)

28. The Chairman remarked that the TTC received a motion requesting the Government to construct a barrier-free footbridge at MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A.

29. The mover presented the paper.

30. Four Members raised the views and enquiries as follows:

30.1 A Member remarked that at present pedestrian traffic was quite heavy at MTR Kowloon Bay Station, and it was envisaged that the completion of the EKCC would lead to a situation where the traffic would become more congested during large-scale events as well as morning and afternoon rush hours, and this would exert an unbearable burden on the proposed footbridge if no other alternative

8 pedestrian access was to be made available. In this connection, the Member suggested that the Department conduct a feasibility study on building a similar barrier-free footbridge at Exit A;

30.2 A Member remarked that when the EKEO first introduced its amelioration measures to pedestrian access, the Committee had endeavoured successfully to win the support of the relevant department to improve MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit B, and now in the same vein the Member urged the department to strive to improve MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A;

30.3 A Member had confidence that the department concerned would be able to optimise the barrier-free access of MTR Kowloon Bay Station from a holistic perspective, and urged the department to carry out necessary studies in a bid to make possible the building of a barrier-free footbridge at MTR Kowloon Bay Station;

30.4 A Member expressed concerns about the growing pedestrian traffic near MTR Kowloon Bay Station, and not only the MTR station, congestion was also found in the nearby pedestrian connection network; given that there was genuine need to optimise the footbridge at Exit A, the Member would like the department concerned to conduct a feasibility study on this notion, so that it could answer the Committee’s expectations with concrete data.

31. Miss Wendy TANG of the Transport Department (“TD”) responded by pointing out that the staircase to the footbridge at the MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A was built in the shadow of the bridge deck of the , which limited the height of the access facility, and for this reason the Department had installed a stair lift for people in need of such a facility. The HyD was now building a lift and a stair lift at the two footbridges connecting MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit B respectively, and according to plan, a new footbridge would be put in place at Exit B to align with the development of the EKCC. Subsequent to the completion of the facilities, barrier-free facilities at access to MTR Kowloon Bay Station would be significantly optimised.

32. The Chairman announced that the motion would be put to a vote, and the movers were Mr CHEUNG Yiu-pan and Mr Ben CHAN; and the seconders were Mr NGAN Man-yu , Mr AU YEUNG Kwan-nok, Mr CHEUNG Pui-kong, Mr Kin HUNG, Mr CHEUNG Ki-tang, Mr CHAN Chun-kit, Mr TAM Siu-cheuk, Mr Wilson OR, Ms SO Lai-chun, Mr Patrick LAI, Mr Nelson CHAN, Mr WONG Chun-ping and Mr Perry YIU. The Motion read as follows:

“That the Traffic and Transport Committee of Kwun Tong District Council requested the retrofitting of a barrier-free footbridge at MTR Kowloon Bay Station Exit A.”

33. The voting result was as follows: 29 for, 0 against, 0 abstained and that the motion was

9 carried by the Committee.

VIII. Any Other Business

34. A Member remarked that bus stops along Anderson Road and Sau Mau Ping did not have a shelter, and waiting passengers would have a difficult time during hot weather or rainy days; and the Member wanted the government department concerned to take note of the situation.

35. Mr Rick LIU of the TD responded by saying that the Department and the bus operators were assessing matters related to the provision of shelters for bus stops along Anderson Road and the surrounding areas. The Department had been aware of the needs in the district, and would urge the bus operators to expedite the provision of the facility when support was successfully secured from the relevant departments and stakeholders.

36. Four Members raised the views and enquiries as follows:

36.1 A Member remarked that the bus terminus now in On Tat Estate would be relocated to On Tai Estate when residents had moved into the latter. The Member was worried that in that case, buses departing from the terminus in On Tai Estate would be almost full when they reached the en-route stop at On Tat Estate, and this would cause inconvenience to waiting passengers in On Tat Estate and run the risk of causing friction or a sense of discontent among passengers. It was hoped that the Department would take these factors into serious consideration when re-configuring bus routes to coincide with the intake of residents at On Tai Estate;

36.2 A Member suggested that in order to ease the illegal parking problems in , particularly those on Pik Wan Road, the Department make more use of vacant land to provide parking spaces, coupled with enhanced enforcement actions. In addition, the Member wanted to know when the value-added facilities (such as display panels and long benches, etc.) would be retrofitted atop the shelter of bus stops or at bus stops;

36.3 A Member remarked that the long-term solution to the illegal parking of taxis and other vehicles in Kwun Tong Ferry Bus Terminus rest on better planning, meaning that space in the terminus should be used to mitigate illegal parking and congestion in the surrounding streets. Separately, the Member relayed the view that piles of waste were now found in Kwun Tong Public Pier and hoped that the Department would introduce measures to improve the facilities and environmental

10 hygiene conditions in Kwun Tong Public Pier to meet pier users’ expectations;

36.4 A Member referred to illegal parking in Lam Tin, particularly the surrounding area along On Tin Street and Ping Tin Street, and exhorted enhanced police enforcement. The Member also suggested that vacant land be put to effective use and more public parking spaces be provided;

36.5 A Member remarked that the improvement proposals for the pedestrian access to the public transport interchange at Lam Tin MTR Station were not good enough, and hoped that the Department would give more weight to the fact that the general public had a propensity to choose to walk;

36.6 A Member remarked that land resumption and redevelopment would lead to the closure of many temporary car parks, and this would give rise to serious illegal parking problems in Kwun Tong District. The availability of parking spaces in some large-scale shopping malls should not be construed that the district had a sufficient supply of car parks since some parking spaces might have been reserved for monthly parking or other purposes. The Department was advised to read between the lines of the information provided by the shopping malls;

36.7 A Member remarked that the temporary office for advance allocation in On Tai Estate was to be relocated and in this connection it was hoped that the TD would make necessary public bus arrangements to tie in with the relocation; and;

36.8 A Member supplemented that apart from shelters, it was also necessary to retrofit seats at the bus stops on Anderson Road and in Sau Mau Ping. During rush hours, buses departing from On Tai Estate and On Tat Estate were full when they reached Sau Mau Ping and Po Tat Estate, and it was suggested that the Department enhance the bus services and consider increasing frequency of buses leaving from Po Tat Estate. Separately, there were other Members who hoped that the bus route between Sau Mau Ping and Shatin/Tai Wai could come into service as soon as possible.

37. The highlights of the response by Mr Rick LIU of the TD were as follows:

37.1 After the intake of residents at On Tai Estate, the bus terminus now operating in On Tat Estate would be relocated to On Tai Estate, and the Department would bear in mind the needs of On Tat Estate residents when realigning bus services, and it was always an option to introduce a tributary route or special services during rush hours in order that bus services would be made available for residents

11 in both On Tat Estate and On Tai Estate to take them to their destinations;

37.2 Regarding the retrofitting arrangements for the value-added facilities, including real-time bus-service information display panels and seats, the bus company had formulated specific plans and would carry out the retrofitting works at various bus stops in due course;

37.3 Kwun Tong Public Pier was managed and maintained jointly by different government departments. Regarding the situation as relayed by Members, the authorities concerned were advising the persons in question not to pile up debris inside Kwun Tong Public Pier through inter-departmental co-operation, and arrangements would be made to address the irregularities and remove the stuff stored in that public facility;

37.4 The Department would revisit the improvement proposals for the pedestrian access to the public transport interchange at MTR ; and

37.5 The new bus route between Tai Wai (via the Anderson Road Development Area) and Sau Mau Ping (Central) was under planning and would come into service in due course.

38. Miss Wendy TANG of the TD responded by pointing out that regarding the parking spaces in Lam Tin, the Department had been holding discussions with the relevant Member about the improvement proposals and had conducted site visits with the Member as well, and would continue to follow the matter up with the Member.

39. Mr AU Kwong-yiu of the Police Force responded by pointing out that the Police had deployed resources to crack down illegal roadside parking on Pik Wan Road, and in the days to come an array of actions would be taken to maintain traffic order, and among the targeted spots was Pik Wan Road.

40. Four Members followed up and raised the following views and enquiries:

40.1 A Member hoped that the Police would consider including Industrial Area onto the list of blackspots identified by the Police, where enforcement would be taken to combat illegal parking;

40.2 A Member was of the view that enforcement actions taken by the Police against illegal parking were a bit predictable, and suggested that the Department give more thought to this matter;

40.3 A Member remarked that a large pile of unidentified pallets had been dumped on the driveway and passing bay near Sze Shan Street and Lei Yue Mun Road, and hoped that relevant government departments would follow this up; and

40.4 A Member hoped that the problems stemming from the short supply of parking spaces in Lam Tin could be dealt with from a policy perspective.

12 41. Mr AU Kwong-yiu of the Police Force noted the suggestions about including Yau Tong Industrial Area onto the black list, where enforcement would be taken to combat illegal parking, and would follow up on the matter related to the pallets found near Sze Shan Street and Lei Yue Mun Road.

IX. Date of Next Meeting

42. The next meeting was scheduled to be held at 2.30 p.m. on 27 July 2017 (Thursday).

43. There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 4.30 p.m.

The minutes of the meeting were confirmed on 27 July 2017.

Kwun Tong District Council Secretariat July 2017

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