Minutes of the 4Th Meeting of the Traffic and Transport Committee (2020-2021) of the Tuen Mun District Council

Minutes of the 4th Meeting of the Traffic and Transport Committee (2020-2021) of the Tuen Mun District Council

Date: 9 September 2020 (Wednesday) Time: 9:31 a.m. Venue: Tuen Mun District Council Conference Room

Present Time of Arrival Time of Departure Mr POON Chi-kin (Chairman) TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr WONG Tak-yuen (Vice Chairman) TMDC Member 10:13 a.m. End of meeting Ms CHAN Shu-ying, Josephine TMDC Chairman 9:41 a.m. End of meeting Mr WONG Tan-ching TMDC Vice Chairman 9:35 a.m. End of meeting Ms KONG Fung-yi TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr CHAN Yau-hoi, BBS, MH, JP TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. 1:09 p.m. Ms WONG Lai-sheung, Catherine TMDC Member 9:35 a.m. End of meeting Ms HO Hang-mui TMDC Member 9:37 a.m. End of meeting Mr LAM Chung-hoi TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Ms CHU Shun-nga, Beatrice TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr YEUNG Chi-hang TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr YAN Siu-nam TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr MO Kwan-tai, Michael TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr HO Kwok-ho TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr LAM Ming-yan TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr LAM Kin-cheung TMDC Member 11:07 a.m. End of meeting Mr CHOW Kai-lim TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr MA Kee TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr CHEUNG Kam-hung, Kenneth TMDC Member 9:40 a.m. End of meeting Mr LEUNG Ho-man TMDC Member 9:52 a.m. End of meeting Mr WONG Hung-ming TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr TSANG Kam-wing TMDC Member 11:48 a.m. End of meeting Mr TSANG Chun-hing TMDC Member 9:37 a.m. End of meeting Mr YAN Pui-lam TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr LAI Chun-wing, Alfred TMDC Member 9:31 a.m. End of meeting Mr LO Chun-yu TMDC Member 10:09 a.m. 11:29 a.m. Ms LAI Ka-man TMDC Member 9:32 a.m. End of meeting Mr CHAU Man-chun, Tony Executive Officer (District Council) 2, Tuen Mun (Secretary) District Office, Home Affairs Department

By Invitation Miss YU Wing-sze, Natalie Senior Transport Officer/Bus/Lantau, Transport Department

Miss LEUNG Ka-man, Eunice Transport Officer/Bus/Lantau, Transport Department

Mr TUNG Chun-yin, Clyde Senior Engineer/Survey and Projects, Transport Department

Mr SO Wing-kin Engineer/Projects 3, Transport Department

Mr CHEUNG Tsz-king Senior Engineer 3/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department Ms YEUNG Kwai-fong, Rachel Engineer 5/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department

Ms NG Yim-ling, Elaine Public Relations Officer, Highways Department

Mr LEUNG Ling-yin Manager, Transport Planning, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited Ms Betsy LEUNG Manager, Public Affairs, Transport Planning and Public Affairs, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited Mr Kelvin YEUNG Division Manager, Operations (New Territories West), The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited Mr LAW Yiu-wah, Rayson Senior Officer, Planning and Development, Long Win Bus Company Limited Ms Annie LAM Assistant Public Relations Manager - External Affairs, MTR Corporation Limited Mr Winson TSE Infrastructure Maintenance Manager - West Rail Line, Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 and Light Rail, MTR Corporation Limited

In Attendance Miss LEUNG Chue-kay, Koronis Assistant District Officer (Tuen Mun)2, Home Affairs Department Miss CHENG Wing-yan, Wing Assistant District Officer (Tuen Mun)2 (Designate), Home Affairs Department Mr YEUNG Lok-man, Icarus Senior Transport Officer/Tuen Mun 1, Transport Department

Ms TSE Sau-ching, Cammy Senior Transport Officer/Tuen Mun 2, Transport Department

Mr MA Yik-kau, Victor Engineer/Tuen Mun Central, Transport Department

Ms WAN Mei-yin Engineer/Tuen Mun North, Transport Department

Mr WONG Yui-wai, Rex Engineer/Special Duties 2, Transport Department

Mr WONG Tung-pan District Operations Officer (Tuen Mun), Hong Kong Police Force Mr LAU Yuk-kwong Station Sergeant, District Traffic Team (Tuen Mun), Hong Kong Police Force Mr WU Fan District Engineer/Tuen Mun (East), Highways Department

Ms CHAN Hoi-ki, Maggie District Engineer/General 3, Highways Department

Mr CHAN Yuen-heng, Jason Engineer/15 (West), Civil Engineering and Development Department Mr TAM Kwok-leung Administrative Assistant/Lands (District Lands Office, Tuen Mun), Lands Department Mr Stephen WAN Manager, Operations, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited Mr Brian LAM Assistant Operations Manager, Citybus Limited

Absent with Apologies

Mr LEE Ka-wai TMDC Member

Mr CHEUNG Ho-sum TMDC Member

Action I. Opening Remarks The Chairman welcomed all present to the 4th meeting of the Traffic and Transport Committee (“TTC”) (2020-2021).

2. On behalf of the TTC, the Chairman welcomed Miss Wing CHENG, who would take up the post Assistant District Officer (Tuen Mun)2 soon. He also thanked Miss Koronis LEUNG, the incumbent Assistant District Officer, for her long cooperation with the TTC. On behalf of the TTC, the Chairman extended welcome to Ms Maggie CHAN, District Engineer/General 3 of the Highways Department (“HyD”), who had just taken office as the department’s representative for Tuen Mun West and was present at a TTC meeting for the first time. He then said Miss CHING Hoi-ying, Janet, Engineer/Housing & Planning/New Territories West of the Transport Department (“TD”), had been transferred to another post and her duties were temporarily shared by Mr Victor MA and Ms WAN Mei-yin. The Chairman thanked Miss Janet CHING for her cooperation with the TTC.

3. The Chairman further said that to shorten the time of gatherings of people in a confined space, long meetings were not advisable. Therefore, he would combine related agenda items for discussion and pass matters which required further deliberation to respective working groups. He reminded all present to keep their speeches concise and avoid repetition.

4. The Chairman reminded Members that those who were aware of their personal interests in any matters discussed at the meeting should declare the interests before the discussion. The Chairman would, in accordance with Order 38(12) of the Tuen Mun District Council Standing Orders (“Standing Orders”), decide whether the Members who had declared interests might speak or vote on the matters, might remain at the meeting as observers, or should withdraw from the meeting. All cases of declaration of interests would be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

II. Absence from Meeting 5. The Secretariat had received Mr CHEUNG Ho-sum’s notification about his absence due to other commitments.

III. Confirmation of Minutes of the 2nd and 3rd Meetings of the TTC (2020-2021) 6. The Chairman said the Secretariat had distributed the minutes of the 2nd and 3rd meetings to Members for perusal on 4 September, and no specific written

Action proposals for amendments had been received before the deadline. However, the Secretariat had received an enquiry from Mr Michael MO asking whether the Chairman’s speech recorded in paragraph 280 of the minutes of the 3rd meeting was contrary to Order 23 of the Standing Orders. The Secretariat had given a reply to Mr Michael MO before the current meeting, stating that the speech was not contrary to the above provision in the Standing Orders.

7. There being no amendments proposed by other Members, the Chairman announced that the above minutes were confirmed.

IV. Matters Arising (A) Request for Expeditious Repairs to Light Rail Platform Facilities (TTC Paper No. 22/2020) Request the MTR to Repair Entry/Exit Gates on West Rail Line and Put All MTR Bus Stands Back Expeditiously (TTC Paper No. 23/2020) (Paragraphs 69 to 79 of the Minutes of the 2nd Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) (Paragraphs 27 to 39 of the Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) 8. As the above two matters were related to each other, the TTC agreed to discuss them together.

9. The Chairman said that at its 3rd meeting on 1 June 2020, the TTC had discussed the above two matters and decided to have further discussions on them.

10. The Chairman welcomed Ms Annie LAM, Assistant Public Relations Manager - External Affairs of the MTR Corporation Limited (“MTRCL”), to the meeting.

11. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said all Light Rail (“LR”) stops were equipped with ticket vending machines and entry/exit validators. While the MTRCL would keep tabs on the operation of the LR system, it also welcomed comments from Members on the arrangements of LR stop facilities. She further said passengers could check real-time information about the arrival of LR vehicles through the mobile application “Next Train” starting 13 August 2020. Moreover, the MTRCL was still considering the arrangements for passenger information displays. The LR being an open system, its facilities were vulnerable to

Action unpredictable external factors. Therefore, the MTRCL needed to take into account risk exposure and the sustainability of the services provided for passengers when repairing LR facilities, and it was making efforts to develop smart LR services with a view to giving passengers better experiences while minimising the impact of external factors on LR services. As for the re-provision of MTR bus stop signs, the company had purchased relevant materials and expected to gradually re-provide the stop signs starting the first quarter of next year.

12. Mr MA Kee said the MTR mobile application came with a complicated interface, so he believed that the installation of arrival time display panels on LR platforms could bring more convenience for passengers. He hoped the MTRCL would accept the suggestion.

13. Ms HO Hang-mui said that many young people found the MTR mobile application not user-friendly and that some passengers could not access the real-time arrival schedules for MTR buses. She also noted that if two LR vehicles arrived at a stop at the same time, the mobile application did not show the chronological order of their arrival and, as a result, passengers might board a wrong vehicle. Therefore, she requested the MTRCL to reinstall arrival time display panels as soon as possible.

14. Ms Catherine WONG said the mobile application and arrival time display panels could cater for the needs of different passengers, so the MTRCL should not ignore passengers who relied on arrival time display panels because of the introduction of the mobile application. She asked the MTRCL to listen to constructive suggestions and reinstall arrival time display panels as soon as possible.

15. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said she would pass on Members’ comments to relevant departments of the company.

16. Ms HO Hang-mui reckoned that the MTRCL should be requested to drive progress in the installation of arrival time display panels within a specified time limit instead of being allowed to procrastinate.

17. Ms Josephine CHAN said that if the MTRCL found it difficult to install arrival time display panels on each platform, it might consider setting up a comprehensive display panel at a conspicuous place of each LR stop to show the arrival time of all vehicles calling at the stop.

Action 18. Mr LAM Chung-hoi said the TTC had discussed the captioned matter for a long time. He suggested referring it to the Working Group on Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District for further follow-up.

19. The Chairman concluded by saying that Members were generally of the view Working that the real-time arrival schedules on the MTR mobile application failed to cater for Group on Traffic the needs of the disadvantaged, and they expected more substantial progress in the Problems reinstallation of arrival time display panels. This matter would be referred to the within Tuen Working Group on Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District for further follow-up. Mun District

(B) Request the Transport Department to Improve the Service of Minibus Route 46 Series (TTC Paper No. 25/2020) Request to Increase the Frequency of Minibus Route 43 Series (TTC Paper No. 27/2020) (Paragraphs 91 to 101 of the Minutes of the 2nd Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) (Paragraphs 40 to58 of the Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) 20. As the above two matters were related to each other, the TTC agreed to discuss them together.

21. The Chairman said that at its 3rd meeting on 1 June 2020, the TTC had discussed the above two matters and decided to have further discussions on them.

22. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the quality of services on the green minibus (“GMB”) Route 43 series had been unstable since the previous TTC meeting. The department had carried out on-site investigations on 31 July and 2 August 2020, only to find that services on the routes concerned had been unsatisfactory with, for example, service frequency on Routes 43A and 43C falling short of requirements. Therefore, the department had issued warning letters and met with the operators many times urging them to improve their services. Subsequently, the TD had conducted on-site investigations again on 7 August, 20 August and 2 September, and found that the services had improved. Moreover, the operators had promised to hire enough drivers as soon as possible and assign a regulator to deploy vehicles at the Ho Pong Street terminus. The TD had noticed in an on-site investigation that a regulator had already been stationed at the terminus. Also, it had noticed during the three on-site investigations mentioned above that

Action service frequency on Routes 43, 43B and 43C had met the requirements in the schedules of service, though service frequency on Route 43A had deviated by one minute from the schedule of service. The department had accepted the operator’s explanation that service frequency had been affected by traffic conditions. Therefore, the TD reckoned that the performance of the operators had improved significantly in recent months, and it would continue to monitor the quality of services on the routes concerned.

23. Ms HO Hang-mui said the sanitary conditions of vehicles on GMB routes 46 and 46A had never improved. Also, she had witnessed many times drivers on the routes not wearing masks properly. She had reported the above situation to the operator, but the operator had only said they would talk to the frontline staff. She pointed out that failure to wear a mask properly was a violation of the law, so she asked the TD to strengthen supervision.

24. Mr Michael MO noted that in the first tranche of the Employment Support Scheme (“ESS”), the operator of the Route 46 series had undertaken to maintain a headcount of 49 staff and received a total of $332,000 in subsidies; the operator of the Route 43 series had undertaken to maintain a headcount of 38 staff and received a total of $393,957 in subsidies; and the operators of the Route 44 series had undertaken to maintain a headcount of 249 staff and received a total of $4,097,196 in subsidies. However, services on the above routes had not improved during the EES period, so he urged the TD and the Hong Kong Police Force (“HKPF”) to probe whether the operators concerned had committed any subsidy fraud.

25. Ms Beatrice CHU said she and residents in the district had many times monitored the operation on the Route 43 series on their own initiative, but findings from their observations were often not consistent with those from the TD’s on-site inspections. She added that at an earlier TTC meeting, the TD had said it had planned to hold internal hearings against the operator concerned and even revoke its operating right, but at the current meeting, the department made no mention of the above steps but merely said that the operator had already improved its services after being issued with a warning letter. She said Routes 43A and 43C served a large number of passengers but the quality of their services was always poor, so she asked the TD to explain when it would take further action against the operator.

26. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said it was true that the quality of services on the Route 43 series had declined in July 2020, but it had improved after the

Action department’s meeting with the operator. Agreeing that the 50-minute-long wait for services on some routes was not ideal, he invited Members to provide relevant information for follow-up. And in view of the impact the coronavirus epidemic had on patronage, the TD had approved the Route 43 series operator’s application for a temporary adjustment to service frequency, whereby the minibus headway had been extended by five minutes from 17 to 31 August 2020. The department had found no passengers left behind during the period. The TD had allowed the adjusted frequency on the Route 43 series to last only two weeks, with the adjustment subject to weekly examination and approval. Besides, the ESS aimed to protect companies from having to lay off staff during the epidemic rather than to provide operating income subsidies. The number of staff required for the Route 43 series was much more than the existing headcount at the operator, so the department would continue to urge the operator to maintain a sufficient workforce.

27. Ms Cammy TSE of the TD said the department paid much attention to the cleanliness inside minibuses on the Route 46 series and had carried out random checks on a regular basis. The operator concerned had hired cleaners to clean minibuses at the Fu Tai Estate terminus, and arranged to have the vehicle bodies of minibuses cleaned at car washes. If problems were spotted during the random checks, the department would request the operator to follow them up. As regards service frequency, the TD had conducted on-site inspections in Tuen Mun Town Centre on 9 and 17 August 2020. Findings of the inspections revealed that service frequency was generally in line with the requirements in the schedules of service, with Route 46 operating at a headway of about four minutes during rush hours and service frequency on Route 46A maintained at every 12 to 15 minutes. In addition, if the department found any driver not wearing a mask properly, it would ask the operator to follow the matter up seriously.

28. Mr WONG Tung-pan of the HKPF said the Police was always in close contact with other departments to prevent the abuse of the anti-epidemic fund, with some arrests having been had made recently. He added that if relevant departments found any fraudulent applications, they might refer them to the Police at any time for further investigation.

29. Mr HO Kwok-ho said he used services on Route 46 every day but had never found any staff doing the cleaning. He further said there had so far been more than 10 confirmed cases in Fu Tai Estate, so he had written to the TD earlier requesting the department to prompt GMB operators in the district to arrange aerosol

Action disinfection.

30. Ms KONG Fung-yi said operators might strengthen their services only when TD officers were carrying out on-site inspections and relapsed into their old ways after the officers left. She noted that with a low frequency, the services provided on Route 43C were not satisfactory, and the TD’s ineffective monitoring gave rise to the suspicion that it was covering up for the operator. She reckoned that the route should be put to tender afresh if the operator failed to hire an adequate number of drivers after receiving the ESS subsidy.

31. Mr MA Kee said he had inspected the operation on Route 43 that morning and found its service frequency had been up to standard. Despite this, there were often complaints about services on the route not calling at stops at places like San Hui, Gold Coast and Nim Wan. But the TD could hardly monitor the situation; it could only press the operator to make improvements as far as possible. He added that Route 43A was relatively short and its services were supposed to be relatively stable, but similarly, the problem of lost trips was serious on the route. Besides, service frequency was very low on Route 43B, so he urged the TD to introduce an estimated arrival time system for GMBs as soon as possible.

32. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department understood Members being very concerned about the instable GMB services, so it had arranged to carry out on-site inspections at locations that were not easily noticed by drivers to ensure the inspection findings could reflect the reality. The department hoped the on-site inspections could prompt the operators to rectify their flaws, and it did not mean to cover up for the operators concerned. During its on-site inspections, the department not only paid attention to service frequency but saw whether there was any stop-skipping. He reiterated that the ESS was intended to protect the livelihood of existing drivers rather than subsidise the incomes of operators. If the TD found any cases of violations, it would follow them up with relevant departments.

33. Ms Josephine CHAN said she had long been suspecting that the operator of the Route 43 series deployed vehicles on the route to other routes. Citing the TD’s strict regulations on the use of school buses as an example, she requested the department to provide information about the licence plates of vehicles on each GMB route to facilitate district councillors’ monitoring. Councillors should be notified before the department approved adjustments to service frequency on individual

Action routes.

34. Mr Kenneth CHEUNG said the TD would notify councillors of any adjustments to the frequency of other public transport services, so he requested the department to notify councillors as well when it approved any adjustments to the frequency of GMB services. He further said the TD could check the driving recorders installed on GMBs to check whether the drivers had done anything against regulations. Also, he said the TD imposed few penalties for operators, adding that while some residents were worried that they would suffer more if the operators were stripped of their operating rights, he noticed that the services run by GMB operators in other areas were better than those in Tuen Mun. Therefore, he opined that it was time to introduce competition.

35. Ms Catherine WONG said the TD should not only report the average headway but also the longest headway on the GMB routes concerned. Also, she said she agreed that it was important to introduce competition, adding that the services provided on GMB Route 44 had been unsatisfactory, but service frequency on the route had become very high since the launch of a bus route running to and from Sheung Shui. Moreover, she asked if the TD had imposed any penalties on GMB operators in addition to issuing warning letters. She further said she had received complaints from staff for the Route 43 series about the operator’s failure to disburse the full amount of the ESS funds according to the staff list submitted at the time of application.

36. In response to Members’ concern about an operator’s unauthorised re-deployment of vehicles, Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department had never found any vehicles on the Route 43 series being deployed to other routes, nor vice-versa. He added that according to the department’s records, the Route 43 series had a fleet of 19 registered minibuses, but due to the shortage of drivers, there were at most only 17 minibuses running on the route at the same time. Moreover, he said the TD had never allowed the operator to extend the headway to 50 minutes, and would follow up on this matter. As regards penalties, the two warnings that the TD had issued to the operator of the Route 43 series in April and August 2020 respectively would be taken into consideration in the interim review and the extension of the operating right. He said the operator was very concerned about the two warning letters issued by the department and had promised to improve its services. In response to Members’ proposal to introduce competition, he said the TD’s aim was to ensure that operators maintained a reasonable standard of services

Action rather than to penalise individual operators. In addition, if there was any shortfall in the ESS subsidy received by the staff of the GMB operator, they were recommended to make a report to the relevant department.

37. Ms Cammy TSE of the TD said that in response to Members’ concern about the cleanliness of vehicles on the Route 46 series, the department would urge the operator to step up cleaning. She also said that after receiving a letter from Mr Kenneth CHEUNG talking about the problem of overloading on GMB Route 42, the department had immediately requested the operator to follow up on the issue and referred it to the HKPF.

38. In addition, Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department’s on-site inspection at Handsome Court on 7 August 2020 showed that Route 43 operated at a 9-to-16-minute headway.

39. Mr YAN Pui-lam asked when the real-time arrival information system would be installed for GMBs in Tuen Mun. Also, he expressed dissatisfaction with the TD representatives continuously defending the operator of the Route 43 series.

40. Mr LO Chun-yu said the action taken by the TD, namely giving advice and warning letters, was not much of a deterrent. He called for the department to take tougher action against operators’ malpractice.

41. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department was gradually installing the real-time arrival information system on GMB routes, adding that Route 140M had been equipped with the system, Route 42 would follow soon, and the installation on the rest was due for completion in 2021 and 2022. As regards penalties against operators, he said the TD would not impose fines on operators, and if the performance of an operator was poor, the department would consider shortening the term of its operation or even terminating its operating right during the interim review. Besides, the department would consider holding inquiries into serious faults by operators.

42. Mr Michael MO said the operator of the Route 43 series hired a large number of drivers who received no basic salary but were paid on a revenue-sharing basis. He further said that on one hand, the operator had cut service frequency, reduced drivers’ working days, requested them to sign a resignation agreement in May 2020 and re-employ them afterwards, but on the other hand, it had applied for

Action the ESS subsidy. He requested the relevant department to follow up on the matter.

43. Ms Beatrice CHU said councillors and the TD had put a great deal of resources into the captioned matters but the situation had not improved. Therefore, she urged the TD to reconsider imposing penalties on operators.

44. Mr HO Kwok-ho said it was reported that the operator of the Route 46 series hired a large number of part-time drivers but left half of its vehicles idle. He expressed doubt about what the operator had done.

45. Mr Kenneth CHEUNG suggested inviting representatives from GMB operators to join a meeting.

46. Ms KONG Fung-yi asked the TD to provide information about the licence plates of the fleet on Route 43C.

47. Ms HO Hang-mui said drivers on Route 46 had told her that the route’s operator had recently hired a group of new drivers and cut the working hours of existing ones. She suspected that the operator had expanded its staff deliberately for the purpose of ESS application. She called for investigations by the TD and the HKPF.

48. Ms Cammy TSE of the TD said the department would inspect services on Route 46 from time to time to see, for example, whether there were idle vehicles and thus whether the operator provided services in accordance with the schedule of service. She added that the current service frequency on Route 46 was generally in line with the requirements in the schedule of service, but the department would remind the operator to maintain an adequate number of drivers and provide services in accordance with the schedule of service.

49. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said Members’ proposal to impose fines was noted and would be further examined. Also, the department would continue with its regular investigation and supervision work.

50. The Chairman said the TTC had discussed the captioned matters many times and suggested taking them forward as follows: (i) Representatives from the operators of the Routes 43 and 46 series be invited to a meeting; and (ii) the TD be requested to provide information about the fleets on the Routes 43 and 46 series,

Action their respective schedules of service, and details about the real-time arrival information system to facilitate monitoring by councilors and the public. Besides, the captioned matter would be referred to the Working Group on Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District for further follow-up.

51. Ms HO Hang-mui suggested the captioned matters be referred to the working group for long-term follow-up, and the TD be requested to provide data about lost trips on the Routes 43 and 46 series at each working group meeting.

52. Ms Beatrice CHU and Mr HO Kwok-ho suggested the TTC discuss the captioned matters once more.

53. Mr MA Kee suggested a separate meeting be held and the GMB operators be invited to join.

54. The Chairman concluded by saying that the TTC would further discuss the Secretariat captioned matters at its 5th meeting and the relevant GMB operators would be invited to join. Besides, he urged the TD to provide more satisfactory responses next time.

(C) Urge the Transport Department to Increase and Improve Public Transport Services in Tuen Mun in View of Gradual Resident Intake of New Residential Projects at So Kwun Wat (TTC Paper No. 29/2020) (Paragraphs 63 to 73 of the Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) Request to Open Up Red Minibus Prohibited Zones in Light of the Significant Population Growth in So Kwun Wat (TTC Paper No. 63/2020) (Written Response of TD) 55. The Chairman said that at its 3rd meeting on 1 June 2020, the TTC had discussed Paper No. 29/2020 and decided to have further discussions on it. Besides, as Paper No. 63/2020 was related to the above matter, the TTC agreed to discuss the two papers together.

56. The Chairman welcomed Mr LEUNG Ling-yin, Manager, Transport Planning; Mr Kelvin YEUNG, Division Manager, Operations (New Territories West); and Ms Betsy LEUNG, Manager, Public Affairs, Transport Planning and

Action Public Affairs, of The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (“KMB”), and Mr Rayson LAW, Senior Officer, Planning and Development, of Long Win Bus Company Limited (“LWB”) to the meeting.

57. The Chairman then said the TD had provided a written response before the meeting, and the Secretariat had sent the written response to Members on 8 September.

58. Mr MA Kee, the first proposer of Paper No. 63/2020, said bus services were not adequate in So Kwun Wat. He reckoned red minibuses were a possible alternative that could provide more flexible services in the area. He pointed out that red minibuses could operate along Castle Peak Road but were not allowed to enter So Kwun Wat Road. Therefore, he hoped the TD would lift the restriction, and he would welcome any better solutions proposed by the department.

59. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department had always been encouraging red minibuses to transform themselves into GMBs to provide better regulated services. Currently there were no schedules of service for red minibuses, so the department confined their operation to specified areas. He further said So Kwun Wat was a new residential development area and the department wanted to provide the area with regulated public transport services that featured a higher carrying capacity. He noted that the KMB had increased service frequency on Route 252 in late August 2020 (to every 15 minutes in the morning peak hours and every 30 minutes in some evening hours) so that residents could change to other routes to urban areas more easily. Moreover, the TD was discussing with Citybus Limited more frequent services on Route 962E during the morning peak hours, which were expected to be provided as early as possible after the epidemic subsided. The TD understood that residents in the area had long been hoping that all-day services would be provided on Route K53, and the department was discussing relevant arrangements with the MTRCL. He added that as a number of properties in So Kwun Wat would be occupied in the next few years, the department was paying close attention to the area’s development, striving to provide residents living there with public transport services featuring a high carrying capacity and easy access.

60. Mr MA Kee said the proposal to lift the restriction on red minibuses was only a starting point in addressing the matter. He said residents in the area had long been asking for all-day services on Route K53 but the MTRCL had failed to

Action give a positive response, so private housing estates in the area launched their own bus services one after another, which nevertheless did not benefit other residents in the area. Therefore, he hoped the TD would continue to encourage bus companies to strengthen their services in So Kwun Wat.

61. Ms Catherine WONG said that in foreign countries, plans for supporting facilities in new residential areas were made before residents moved in, but things happened in reverse in So Kwun Wat. She further said the councillor for So Kwun Wat had pointed out the lack of public transport services before the large-scale development of the area, but bus services in the area were still far from frequent these days. Therefore, she hoped the TD would take Members’ demands seriously and examine the feasibility of lifting the restriction on red minibus, so that residents with no private cars could travel more easily.

62. Mr Michael MO said he did not understand why So Kwun Wat Road was the only branch road along Castle Peak Road where red minibuses were banned from entry. Moreover, he said that amid the economic downturn, robberies sometimes took place in the district in recent months, and So Kwun Wat residents were exposed to risks to their personal safety when they walked home from Castle Peak Road late at night. He requested the TD to temporarily allow red minibuses to enter So Kwun Wat Road at night until public transport services in the area were further improved.

63. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said the department would introduce bus and GMB services to new development areas to provide better regulated services, so it had no plan to open up new areas for red minibuses’ operation. In response to the concern expressed by Ms Catherine WONG, he said the department and public transport operators had been discussing the development of transport services in the area, and bus companies had agreed to review the levels of their services in response to growth in passenger numbers. Moreover, the department had asked the MTRCL to consider strengthening its services on Route K53. When making plans for public transport services in So Kwun Wat, the TD had considered and discussed with the relevant operators the demand for night transport. Announcements would be made if any overnight route was launched. He added that service frequency on Route 252 had been increased with effect from 31 August 2020, and other direct routes travelling to urban areas in the morning peak hours were expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Action 64. Ms Josephine CHAN said the TD should put compulsory policies in place instead of leaving it to the MTRCL to decide whether to strengthen services. If the MTRCL was reluctant to do so, the route should be put out to tender afresh. She also said red minibuses could not only break the LR’s monopoly (e.g. the route from Yuen Long to Chi Lok Fa Yuen) but provide overnight services, but the TD’s policies impeded the free operation of the market.

65. Ms Beatrice CHU said that having received the TD’s recent reply about traffic issues in So Kwun Wat, she opined that the department’s attitude was more positive than before. She further said that as Le Pont, a new housing estate in So Kwun Wat, would soon be occupied, many residents had expressed concern about the lack of transport services in the area. Therefore, she requested the TD to give a detailed account of the progress of its discussion with the MTRCL on the service arrangements for Route K53.

66. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said that as there would be 11 000 new residents living in So Kwun Wat in the next three years, the department intended to increase bus services to meet demand. He added that the department had been asking the MTRCL to consider increasing service frequency on Route K53 and transforming the route into an all-day service. The discussion was still in progress. Moreover, the department had considered Members’ proposal that GMB Route 43 should operate via Pok Oi Hospital Mrs Cheng Yam On Millennium School (“Millennium School”) if all-day services were not to be provided on Route K53. However, the department needed to ensure that the operator had an adequate carrying capacity before extending its services on the route, in order not to affect passengers in the downstream part of So Kwun Wat Road. Thus, the department still saw bus services as the first choice.

67. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said Route K53 currently operated in the morning and afternoon peak hours, and the company would run special services or re-deploy vehicles to meet passenger demand. She added that the MTRCL would continue to follow up with district councilors on service-related matters. As regards the arrangements for all-day services on Route K53, there were many factors to take into consideration. The MTRCL was still looking at them and would inform relevant Members if there was progress.

68. Mr MA Kee said that as special services on Route K53 were provided only during the hours when workers and students commuted to work and school, So

Action Kwun Wat residents who needed to travel during non-peak hours and holidays were not catered for. He expressed dissatisfaction with this.

69. The Chairman said he noticed that the webpage of Route K53 suggested passengers take the GMB Route 43 series instead when the former route was out of service, but services on the GMB Route 43 series were not satisfactory too. He added that it was unreasonable for relevant departments to plan adjustments to public transport services in So Kwun Wat only after new housing estates in the area were occupied.

70. Mr Icarus YEUNG of the TD said that during non-peak hours, residents of housing estates in the upstream part of So Kwun Wat Road (e.g. NAPA and Le Pont) needed to walk to the Avignon stop before they could take GMB Route 43. The existing services on the route could meet passenger demand and generally, passengers could board easily at the Avignon stop during non-peak hours except on holidays. But understanding that passengers might find it inconvenient to walk between housing estates in the upstream part of So Kwun Wat Road and the Avignon stop, the department would continue to discuss with the MTRCL the arrangements for all-day services on Route K53.

71. The Chairman suggested matters related to traffic in So Kwun Wat be referred to a working group for long-term follow-up.

72. Ms Catherine WONG said referring the matters to a working group was not an effective way to solve the problems. She added that if the MTRCL provided all-day services on Route K53, Members might consider agreeing to the amalgamation of Routes K53 and K58.

73. Ms Josephine CHAN suggested the TTC write to the Commissioner for Transport requesting the department to put any one of the following proposals into practice within two months: (i) providing all-day services on Route K53; (ii) launching a branch route running to Millennium School for GMB Route 43; or (iii) allowing red minibuses to enter So Kwun Wat Road and run to Millennium School.

74. The Chairman accepted the above suggestion and asked the Secretariat to Secretariat follow up on related matters.

[Post-meeting note: The above letter was issued on 13 November 2020.]

Action

[Post-meeting note from the MTRCL: The MTRCL upgraded Route K53 to an all-day service with effect from 15 November.]

(D) Bus Route Diversion Arrangements upon Commissioning of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link (Northern Connection) (TTC Paper No. 46/2020) (Paragraphs 5 to 102 of the Minutes of the 2nd Special Meeting of the TTC (2020-2021)) Impact of the Commissioning of Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link on Traffic within Tuen Mun (TTC Paper No. 53/2020) Request to Adjust Airport Bus Routes for the Commissioning of Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TTC Paper No. 54/2020) 75. The Chairman said that at its 2nd special meeting on 10 July 2020, the TTC had discussed Paper No. 46/2020 and decided to have further discussions on the matter concerned. Moreover, as Papers No. 53/2020 and 54/2020 were related to the above matter, the TTC agreed to discuss them together.

76. The Chairman welcomed Miss Natalie YU, Senior Transport Officer/Bus/Lantau, and Miss Eunice LEUNG, Transport Officer/Bus/Lantau, of the TD to the meeting.

77. The Chairman then said the TD and the LWB had provided written responses before the meeting, and the Secretariat had sent them to Members on 8 September.

78. Mr Michael MO, the proposer of Paper No. 54/2020, quoted the TD’s written response as saying that congestion on the busier major road sections in Tuen Mun would remain manageable from the opening to traffic of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link Northern Connection (“TM-CLKL”) until 2026. He asked whether the data came from a TIA or EIA report. He further said no more vehicles should be attracted from outside Tuen Mun as TM-CLKL-bound roads in the district had already reached full capacity. He added that the Yuen Long District Council (“YLDC”) also had reservations about the plan to divert all airport bus routes along TM-CLKL. Moreover, he asked if the TD had examined with the bus company whether bus routes operating via TM-CLKL would encounter traffic congestion under normal circumstances. He said that to avoid heavy congestion on roads in

Action Tuen Mun, there should not be too many bus routes operating via TM-CLKL before Tuen Mun Western Bypass opened to traffic. He urged the TD to revise the bus route adjustment plan to be implemented after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL.

79. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said that after consideration of Members’ views and deliberation with the bus company, the department would make the following revisions to the bus route adjustment plan to be implemented after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL: (i) T wo morning and the last two evening airport-bound services on Route A33 would take detours through So Kwun Wat Road;

(ii) W ith regard to Members’ concern that Route A33X would operate via the Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road section between Castle Peak Road-San Hui and Pui To Road, the North Lantau-bound services on the route would operate via Castle Peak Road-San Hui instead before reaching Pui To Road, while northbound services on the route heading for Fu Tai would continue to operate via the Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road section between Castle Peak Road-San Hui and Pui To Road;

(iii) With regard to Members’ request for more frequent services on Route E33P, a review of passenger volume data on the route had been carried out. The review showed that the current service hours on Route E33P could meet the needs of passengers travelling between Tuen Mun and North Lantau. But after discussions, the bus company planned to provide two departures at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. running from Siu Hong Station (South) to the airport for a trial period of three months;

(iv) After TM-CLKL opened to traffic and the above adjustments came into effect, the TD would keep close tabs on the operation of the routes and changes in passenger demand, and explore with the bus company the possibility of improving services;

(v) The TD noted the proposal in Paper No. 54/2020. As the route adjustment plan concerned a number of district councils, the TTC of the North District Council (“NDC”) had requested that the route adjustment plan for the “A” and “NA” routes serving North District be suspended, and the situation after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL be observed and reviewed before further study. Besides, the department had briefly introduced the route adjustment

Action plan to the YLDC TTC and provided further information for the committee’s members. It would continue to consult and keep in touch with the YLDC TTC later. She added that after consolidating the views of all parties, the TD would review the route adjustment plan again to see if it was necessary to adjust or refine its details;

(vi) F ranchised buses were large passenger carriers with relatively limited service frequency. Using buses to carrying passengers could reduce the use of roads by other vehicles. Besides, there would be a bus interchange near the Tuen Mun portal of Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Tunnel for passengers to change to other bus routes to different destinations in North Lantau and Tuen Mun easily. Therefore, if routes from other districts could not use TM-CLKL, passengers would have much fewer choices at the TM-CLKL interchange, and the waiting time would also be longer. Moreover, the department tentatively planned to create new stops at Hung Kiu and Waldorf Garden on the bus routes that operated via Tuen Mun Road after departing from Yuen Long, so as to further extend the catchment areas of airport bus services in Tuen Mun;

(vii) With regard to Members’ proposal that Route E36A not operate via Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road and Tuen Mun Town Centre Bus Terminus, the department tentatively planned to create stops at Hung Kiu, San Hui and Tuen Mun Town Centre on the route to offer convenience for passengers travelling to the Tung Chung area. Given that Tuen Mun Town Centre was the district’s transport hub where various means of transport to and from different parts of Tuen Mun were available, the department’s plan would enable Tuen Mun residents travelling to Tung Chung to change easily at Tuen Mun Town Centre; and

(viii) With regard to the views expressed in Paper No. 54/2020, given the fact that the journeys on airport bus routes in Tuen Mun would become shorter after they were diverted along TM-CLKL, the department hoped “A” and “E” routes would complement each other to extend the catchment areas of bus routes plying between Tuen Mun and North Lantau. There was currently an alighting stop at Lung Yat Estate on the Tuen Mun-bound Route A33. After TM-CLKL opened to traffic, Route E33 would provide residents in Lung Yat Estate with bus services to and from North Lantau. Route E33P would continue to serve residents living in Siu Shan Court and the Tuen Mun

Action Swimming Pool area. Besides, traffic on Wu Chui Road could not turn left into the southbound Lung Mun Road, so Route A33 would operate via Hoi Wong Road, Wu King Road, Wu Chui Road and Wu Shan Road to TM-CLKL under the department’s plan.

80. The Chairman asked whether the TD could provide a written response to the above speeches.

81. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said the department could provide a written response after the meeting, and would inform the TMDC about the final measures before the implementation of the route adjustment plan.

82. Mr HO Kwok-ho said he was glad that the southbound Route A33X would be diverted via Castle Peak Road-San Hui, and hoped the TD would provide a written response as soon as possible. As the TD representative had said the final measures in the route adjustment plan was still to be announced, he asked in response whether the adjustment plan just reported by the department’s representative had been put out to consultation with various stakeholders, or it was just a tentative plan by the department. Moreover, he pointed out that the northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road was heavily congested during peak hours, so he asked why the TD insisted that the northbound Route A33X should operate via Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road.

83. Mr Kenneth CHEUNG said that as far as he knew, the TD would suspend the implementation of the route adjustment plan for North District, but it insisted on putting the route adjustment plan for Yuen Long into practice on various grounds. He further said many Members had suggested the TD implement the route adjustment plan in phases, so he requested that before implementing the measures in phases, the department should observe how traffic volume changed after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL.

84. Mr WONG Hung-ming said it was reported that Route A33 would continue to serve the entire Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area, and residents would need to change to other routes at the bus interchange at TM-CLKL. Therefore, he asked about the discounts for changes between Routes E33, E33P and A33.

85. The Chairman said the Yuen Long district comprised two areas: Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. He asked whether the TD would make separate route

Action adjustment plans for the above two areas.

86. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said the department would provide a written response as soon as possible. The current route adjustment plan concerned the councils of a number of districts including Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North District and Islands, and the department had received comments from the district councils along the way, so it would consolidate the views of all parties after consulting with all the relevant TTCs and, if necessary, talk to the bus company to see if it was necessary to adjust or refine the details of the plan, but the adjustments proposed just a short while before would be included in the final plan. As regards the proposal for phased implementation of the adjustment plan, the department’s consultation with the YLDC was still in progress and the feasibility of phased implementation would be covered by the review later. With regard to Members’ concern about traffic congestion in the northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road, the department had carried out an on-site inspection with the LWB and noticed that traffic volume on the northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road was lower than that on the road’s southbound lanes. Also, the department hoped Route A33X could serve the most densely populated part of San Hui to offer convenience for residents living there. Therefore, the northbound Route A33X would continue to operate via the San Hui section of Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road. She further said the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area was currently served by Route A33, and the services remained unchanged under the route adjustment plan. Passengers in the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area could use Route A33 to travel directly to and from the airport as before, or change at the TM-CLKL bus interchange to routes to other destinations in North Lantau. She said that after the route adjustment plan was put into effect, fares from Tuen Mun to North Lantau would generally be lowered and the arrangements for changes from “A” to “E” routes would be similar to the existing ones. The department would also encourage the bus company to offer fare concessions having regard to their operating and financial conditions and the economic environment, so as to reduce the public’s travelling expenses.

Post-meeting note: The written response of the TD was sent to Members on 17 September 2020.]

87. The Vice Chairman asked if there was a plan to increase service frequency on Route E33P. Besides, he said he believed Members would not accept the proposal that the northbound Route A33X continue to operate via the San Hui section of Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road. Thus, he asked the department to

Action make further adjustments. He added that if the North District Council agreed to airport bus routes in the district being diverted via TM-CLKL in the future, the TD should consult with the TMDC as well before the diversion.

88. Mr YEUNG Chi-hang said Members had already suggested at the previous meeting that the route adjustment plan be implemented in phases after TM-CLKL opened to traffic. He further pointed out that traffic heading for TM-CLKL needed to pass through Tuen Mun, so he did not understand why the TD needed to consult with the YLDC first. He urged again the TD to accept the TMDC’s suggestions. He further said all buses travelling from the airport back to Tuen Mun would call at the Butterfly bus stop after exiting TM-CLKL, but passengers with luggage were inconvenienced because the footbridge at that place was not fitted with lifts. Moreover, there were already more than 10 bus routes calling at the stop, so he was worried that the bus stop did not have enough space for new routes. Moreover, he noted that there were only two lanes in most parts of Lung Mun Road, and the Water Supplies Department was carrying out pipe replacement works on one of the lanes. Therefore, he was worried that Lung Mun Road would be more congested after the TM-CLKL opened to traffic.

89. Mr YAN Pui-lam said major roads in Tuen Mun were not intended for a large volume of traffic coming from outside the district, but the TD had never talked about the feasibility of road widening in its responses. Besides, he asked if the department had studied whether there would be a large influx of heavy vehicles to the district after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL, causing congestion of traffic that might even tail back to Tuen Mun Road. Besides, he asked the department whether the route adjustment plan would be implemented in phases.

90. Mr LAM Kin-cheung said that after TM-CLKL opened to traffic, the travelling distance from Tuen Mun to North Lantau was even shorter than that from Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, so he considered it was unreasonable that fares on airport bus routes in Tuen Mun were still higher than those in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing. Moreover, he requested the TD to postpone the implementation of the route adjustment plans for other districts and restrict the use of TM-CLKL by heavy vehicles, so as to evaluate the carrying capacity of TM-CLKL in the early days of its operation.

91. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said that during the previous on-site inspection, the department had noticed that traffic on the northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui

Action Road was lower than that on the southbound lanes, but in response to Members’ comments, the department and the bus company would re-examine Members’ proposal for adjustments to the northbound services on Route A33X. She further said Route E33P would operate at a similar level of frequency during the morning peak hours in the future. As the fares on “A” routes were expected to be lower after TM-CLKL opened to traffic, the department expected that some passengers who currently used Route E33P to travel to and from the airport passenger terminal area would switch to “A” routes. After TM-CLKL opened to traffic, the TD would pay attention to changes in passenger volume on each bus route and, when necessary, review the schedules with the bus company. Moreover, the department had noticed that the last airport-bound service on Route E33P still had a passenger load of 40%, so two buses departing from Siu Hong Station (South) to the airport at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. would run for a trial period of three months. As regards the idea of implementing the route adjustment plan in phases, she stressed that the department very much valued the opinions of the TMDC, but the route adjustment plan concerned the councils of a number of districts including Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North District and Islands, so it was necessary to consolidate the views of all relevant district councils and consider all the plans together. In response to Members’ concern about fares, she said franchised bus fares were determined in accordance with Section 13 of the Public Bus Services Ordinance and the relevant scales of fares. Franchised bus companies would estimate the driving distance on each route in the scenario where their services were re-routed along TM-CLKL and determine the tentative single journey fare on each route; the actual fares were determined based on trial runs. Also, before approving the applications for route adjustments, the TD would ensure the fares met the requirements in the scales of fares.

92. Mr Victor MA of the TD said that according to the latest traffic volume forecast, the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL would not have a significant impact on traffic in Tuen Mun, and the latest research carried out by a consultancy showed that after TM-CLKL opened to traffic, congestion on the busier major road sections in Tuen Mun would remain manageable until 2026. The TD would closely monitor traffic demand and changes in the road networks of Tuen Mun, and devise traffic management measures accordingly in a timely manner. Regarding Members’ concern about the traffic situation on Lung Mun Road, the department would keep in touch with the Water Supplies Department and its contractors to ensure that their works would not affect traffic. Moreover, in response to Members’ concern about the width of roads, he said the existing roads in Tuen Mun could be used by ordinary

Action heavy vehicles.

93. Mr YAN Siu-nam said that with traffic on Wu Chui Road not allowed to turn left into Lung Mun Road, buses on the Route E33 series could not enter the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area. In this regard, he asked whether relevant departments had explored the feasibility of allowing traffic on Wu Chui Road to turn left into Lung Mun Road. He further said traffic tailed back from three bus stops at Waldorf Garden, Tuen Mun Town Centre and Hung Kiu during peak hours. As he expected the situation to worsen after the TM-CLKL opened to traffic, he asked whether relevant departments planned to expand the bus stops and carry out improvement works to nearby roads.

94. Ms Josephine CHAN was dissatisfied with departments’ failure to respond positively to the request made in Paper No. 53/2020 for data. She asked relevant departments whether TM-CLKL could ease traffic in Tuen Mun, and suggested that the TTC call a special meeting to examine thoroughly TM-CLKL’s impacts on traffic in Tuen Mun.

95. Mr WONG Tan-ching suggested Route A33X not operate via Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road at all. He said that fares on daytime airport routes were higher in Tuen Mun than in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, but those on overnight routes were the reverse, so he was confused about the criteria for fare setting. Besides, he suggested the evening service hours on Routes A33 and A33X be aligned.

96. Mr CHOW Kai-lim said Members had requested at the previous meeting that the drop-off point on “E” routes be moved from the Ground Transportation Centre of the airport back to Passenger Terminal 1. He asked the TD to give an update about the arrangements in this regard. He further said the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area was served by “A” routes only, which charged higher fares than “E” routes and provided no interchange discounts, so it was unfair on residents who worked at the airport. Furthermore, as Lantau Link and TM-CLKL would go toll-free, he reckoned that the fare caps in the scales of fares should be lowered accordingly.

97. Ms HO Hang-mui said that after TM-CLKL opened to vehicles, there would be additional traffic on the already heavily congested northbound Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road, so she held that the northbound Route A33X should not operate via Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road. Moreover, she pointed out that data about traffic

Action volume in 2019 were not provided in the written response of the TD, and believed the district would certainly see a significant increase in traffic after the opening to traffic of TM-CLKL. Therefore, she did not agree with the department that congestion on the busier major road sections in Tuen Mun would remain manageable until 2026.

98. The Chairman said that earlier on when the TTC had discussed the project to widen Castle Peak Road - Castle Peak Bay, many Members had asked the TD to provide the actual data in its traffic volume forecasts, so he hoped the department would provide additional information.

99. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said passengers in the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier area could use Route A33 to travel to and from North Lantau, and could continue to do so under the route adjustment plan. The department encouraged passengers to change at the TM-CLKL bus interchange to other routes to destinations in North Lantau. She added that in response to Members’ comments, the department would join the bus company to review the traffic conditions on the Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road section between Castle Peak Road-San Hui and Pui To Road, and study the proposal that the Fu Tai-bound services on Route A33X not operate via the above Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road section. As regards the proposal to align the departure time for the last airport-bound services on Routes A33 and A33X, the TD believed the current frequency and time of services on the above routes were already sufficient to meet passenger needs. After TM-CLKL opened to traffic, the department would continue to pay attention to changes in passenger demand on the above routes, and the review the arrangements with the bus company when necessary. As for the arrangements for airport stops on “E” routes, there were about 30 bus routes using the stop at Cheong Hong Road (outside the Departure Hall) to drop off passengers during the day, and if there were many buses approaching the stop at the same time, they would have to line up to call at the stop. And it was expected that services on “A” routes would become more frequent after the opening of TM-CLKL, so the department proposed some “E” routes use the Ground Transportation Centre bus stop to drop off passengers.

100. Mr Victor MA of the TD said the department expected that after TM-CLKL opened to traffic, some vehicles would use TM-CLKL to travel between New Territories North and Lantau, which would help ease traffic on Tuen Mun Road. According to the latest data provided by the consultancy, after TM-CLKL opened to traffic, the highest traffic volume and the capacity ratios on Tuen Mun Road Town

Action Centre Section and Wong Chu Road during peak hours in 2026 would be 1.0 to 1.1 and 1.1 to 1.2 respectively, which meant congestion would remain at manageable levels. The TD would closely monitor traffic demand and changes in the road networks of Tuen Mun, and devise traffic management measures accordingly in a timely manner. In addition, the HyD had launched the feasibility study on Route 11 in May 2018, and traffic on Tuen Mun Road, Tai Lam Tunnel and Ting Kau Bridge would be eased after the completion of the route.

101. The Chairman asked for department representatives’ responses on the issues about service frequency on Route A33 and ways to address the problem of traffic on Wu Chui Road being not allowed to turn left into Lung Mun Road.

102. Miss Natalie YU of the TD said the department expected that the overall service frequency on Route A33 would increase because passengers might choose to take “A” routes, including Route A33, to the airport due to possible fare cuts. The department would closely monitor how passenger demand and travel patterns on the various routes changed after the adjustments, and join the bus company to study the feasibility of improving services when appropriate.

103. Mr Victor MA of the TD said there were LR facilities on the left side of the junction of Wu Chui Road and Lung Mun Road, so it was not suitable for traffic to turn left there. The department needed to further examine the matter with the MTRCL.

104. The Vice Chairman said that at the previous meeting, the TD had already mentioned the need to study the feasibility of allowing traffic on Wu Chui Road to turn left into Lung Mun Road, but no progress had been made so far.

105. Mr Victor MA of the TD said the department needed to further examine the matter with the MTRCL after the meeting.

106. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said the company would follow up on the matter with the TD after the meeting.

107. The Chairman concluded by saying that after the meeting, he would consider calling a special meeting on the captioned matter, and that even if the special meeting could not be held, the TTC would continue to discuss the three captioned

Action matters at its 5th meeting.

V. Discussion Items (A) Distribution of Financial Resources among Working Groups under the TTC (TTC Paper No. 47/2020) 108. The Chairman said the TTC received a total of $1,015,829.20 under the draft budget for TMDC Funds for the year 2020-2021. Having discussed the allocation of funds with the TTC Vice Chairman and the convenors of the TTC working groups earlier, he tentatively proposed to spend $800,000 on two studies, each of which cost $400,000, and use the remaining funds to produce materials for promoting road safety. He further said the Finance, Administration and Publicity Committee (“FAPC”) and the TMDC would soon discuss the amendment of funding criteria, and if Members reached a consensus on the use of the TTC funds at the current meeting, the TTC working groups would start the relevant follow-up work after the amendment of funding criteria was completed.

109. Ms HO Hang-mui said it was already September, and if the amendment of funding criteria was still required, she was afraid there would not be enough time to complete the studies.

110. The Chairman said he believed that the process of inviting partner organisations and approving funding could be speeded up after the amendment of funding criteria. He added that if there was not enough time to carry out the studies, consideration could be given to carrying out work that took a shorter time, such as traffic-related promotions.

111. Ms Josephine CHAN said that if the TTC could not make specific recommendations on the subject of study, funds could be allocated to the relevant working groups first, so that they could meet after the FAPC meeting to discuss the use of the funds and related follow-up work. As for the study subjects, she recommended studying ways to improve the Tuen Mun Road bus interchange, the transport network between Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai, and shared transport services.

112. Mr TSANG Kam-wing recommended studying the feasibility of building parking facilities in Tuen Mun to mitigate the problem of illegal parking of heavy vehicles in the district.

Action

113. The Chairman said it was reported that the YLDC was still examining matters related to the meeting procedures for the Working Group on the Joint Working Group of Yuen Long-Tuen Mun District Councils on Traffic and Transport (“Joint Working Group”), so he was not optimistic that the Joint Working Group would use district council funds in the current financial year. In view of this, he suggested that the Working Group on Tuen Mun External Traffic and the Working Group on Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District be each allocated $400,000 from the budget funds, and the TTC use the remaining $215,829.20 to organise road safety promotion activities.

114. Ms Josephine CHAN suggested the $215,829.20 for road safety promotion activities be allocated to the Working Group on Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District as well to allow more flexibility in inviting partner organisations.

115. There being no further comments from Members, the Chairman announced Working Group on Tuen Mun that the Working Group on Tuen Mun External Traffic and the Working Group on External Traffic Traffic Problems within Tuen Mun District were allocated $400,000 and and Working Group $615,829.20 (with a recommendation that $400,000 be used for studies and on Traffic $215,829.20 for road safety promotion activities) respectively from the budget Problems within Tuen funds. Mun District

(B) “ Special Scheme” under the “Universal Accessibility” Programme (TTC Paper No. 48/2020) 116. The Chairman welcomed Mr CHEUNG Tsz-king, Senior Engineer 3/Universal Accessibility, Ms Rachel YEUNG, Engineer 5/Universal Accessibility, and Ms Elaine NG, Public Relations Officer, of the HyD to the meeting.

117. Ms Rachel YEUNG of the HyD gave a PowerPoint presentation (see Annex 1) to introduce the captioned paper.

118. Mr YEUNG Chi-hang suggested a site visit to the walkways listed in the captioned paper. Also, he said there were 39 footbridges not fitted with lifts in Tuen Mun, and while the Universal Accessibility (“UA”) Programme had been running for more than a decade, only less than one-third of the footbridges in the district had been retrofitted with lifts. Thus, he welcomed the scheme, and hoped the projects under the original UA Programme could be complete as soon as possible. Moreover, he said there were two footbridges (Structure Nos.: NF102

Action and NF103) requiring the retrofitting of lifts in Butterfly Estate. He asked the HyD to consider including them in the Special Scheme.

119. Mr LAM Kin-cheung said he agreed to the captioned paper’s proposal to retrofit lifts to the two footbridges with heavy pedestrian traffic (Nos.: OT01 and OT02) in On Ting Estate and Yau Oi Estate. However, the subway (No.: YO01) in Yau Oi Estate was unfrequented, so he recommended that other walkways with heavier pedestrian traffic in the district be given priority for the retrofitting of lifts.

120. Mr CHOW Kai-lim said that while lifts had been retrofitted to the footbridge with structure number NF100A, there was no lift at the most-used exit for Wu King Estate. He asked for an explanation from the HyD. He further said it was reported that the footbridge with structure number NF98 might be demolished due to the Tuen Mun South Extension project, so the lift retrofitting works had yet been commenced. In this regard, he enquired about the latest progress of the above project and asked whether the opportunity for lift retrofitting could be passed on to another footbridge if it was certain that the footbridge would be demolished.

121. Mr LAM Chung-hoi expressed support for the captioned scheme. Yet, he said it was difficult for Members to select three footbridges from the captioned paper as requested by the HyD, and urged the department to consider carrying out all the four projects. He further said footbridge OT01 was connected to a number of schools and there were many elderly people in nearby housing estates, so he recommended the above footbridge be given priority for the retrofitting of lifts.

122. Ms KONG Fung-yi asked whether footbridge OT01 would be rebuilt. Besides, she supported the site-visit.

123. The Chairman said that as far as he understood, Members were not required to select three walkways at the current meeting, and the HyD wanted Members to recommend walkways in the district for retrofitting of lifts, so as to facilitate the department’s preliminary studies. The HyD would report on the results of the preliminary study to the TTC in late 2020, and at that time, Members would be invited to select three walkways for the projects to be carried out under the scheme. As regards Members’ proposal for a site visit, he suggested Members recommend walkways to the HyD in writing after the visit.

124. Mr YAN Pui-lam suggested footbridge OT02 be given priority for the

Action retrofitting of lifts and requested the Government to provide additional resources to speed up the implementation of other projects under the UA Programme.

125. Mr TSANG Kam-wing said the ventilation systems fitted to new lifts were not efficient, making the lifts very stuffy and hot. He asked the HyD to improve the situation.

126. Mr CHEUNG Tsz-king of the HyD said there was not incompatibility between the Special Scheme introduced at the current meeting and other phases of the UA Programme introduced by the department before. The other walkways just mentioned by Members were being followed up in other phases of the UA Programme, and the Special Scheme mainly served to retrofit lifts to walkways in housing estates under the Tenants Purchase Scheme and the Buy-or-Rent Option and those in public rental housing estates with divested properties. He further said the purpose of the current meeting was to invite Members to recommend walkways in the district for the retrofitting of lifts to facilitate the department’s preliminary studies. The department would report on the results of the preliminary studies to the TTC in late 2020, and ask Members to select no more than three walkways for the projects to be carried out under the captioned scheme. He added that generally speaking, when planning lift retrofitting works, the department would study the feasibility of building lifts at all exits of the walkways.

127. Ms Rachel YEUNG of the HyD said that being a public rental housing estate, Wu King Estate was not covered by the Special Scheme. She added that the footbridge with structure number NF98 was located within the area of Tuen Mun South Extension, and therefore had to be considered in conjunction with the project. Besides, in line with the Government’s environmental protection policy, all lifts built after 2013 under the UA Programme were equipped with mechanical ventilation instead of air-conditioning.

128. Mr YEUNG Chi-hang said his proposal to retrofit lifts to the footbridge with structure number NF103 could better serve the needs of residents than the captioned paper’s proposal to retrofit lifts to footbridge BF01. He hoped the HyD would consider his proposal.

129. Mr LAM Kin-cheung considered it was not necessary to carry out a feasibility study for subway YO01, and suggested the footbridge with structure number NF103 be included in the Special Scheme.

Action

130. Mr CHEUNG Tsz-king of the HyD said the footbridge with structure number NF103 was already covered by the Third Phase of the UA Programme. He reiterated there would not be any overlap of resources between the Third Phase and the Special Scheme. He further said all projects in the Third Phase had already been established, while those in the Special Scheme were still at the establishment stage.

131. The Chairman said that according to what the HyD representative had said, the progress of the projects in the Third Phase should progress faster than those in the Special Scheme.

132. Ms Rachel YEUNG of the HyD said a consultancy had been commissioned in September the previous year to conduct inspections in the Third Phase, but the Special Scheme was still at its consultation stage, which would be followed by preliminary studies, so the Third Phase was expected to progress faster than the Special Scheme.

133. Mr CHOW Kai-lim once again urged the HyD to consider including other walkways in the district that were more in need of retrofitted lifts in the Special Scheme.

134. Mr YEUNG Chi-hang said there were too many projects in the Third Phase and it would take years to complete them, so he urged the HyD to consider including some walkways in the Special Scheme as long as they met the criteria for the scheme.

135. The Chairman concluded by saying that the TTC would make a site visit and Secretariat asking Members to recommend walkways in writing for preliminary studies.

[Post-meeting note: The above site visit took place on 1 December 2020.]

(C) Deep Concern over Light Rail Derailment (TTC Paper No. 49/2020) Incident at Siu Hong Light Rail Stop on 29 August (TTC Paper No. 50/2020) (Written Response of MTRCL) 136. As the above two matters were related to each other, the TTC agreed to

Action discuss them together.

137. The Chairman welcomed Mr Winson TSE, Infrastructure Maintenance Manager - West Rail Line, Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 and Light Rail of the MTRCL, to the meeting.

138. The Chairman then said the MTRCL had provided a written response before the meeting, and the Secretariat had sent the written response to Members on 8 September.

139. Ms Josephine CHAN, the first proposer of Paper No. 49/2020, said that while claiming that the captioned incident had nothing to do with the LR system, the MTRCL had checked all turnouts and carried out maintenance immediately after the incident. She further said the entry of northbound vehicles into Siu Hong Stop was seriously impeded by LR Routes 614P and 615P. She reckoned that it was quite rare for rear wheels to come off the tracks, and she had tried to figure out the cause of the incident from various aspects but had not received a positive response from the MTRCL. Therefore, she asked the MTRCL to give a detailed explanation of why the incident had happened and asked the TD whether the MTRCL would be punished.

140. The Chairman, who was also the first proposer of Paper No. 50/2020, requested the MTRCL to give more detailed information in addition to that in the written response.

141. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said that at about 8:25 p.m. on 29 August 2020, when a single-set Yuen Long-bound LR vehicle on Route 610 was approaching to Platform No. 1 of Siu Hong Stop, wheels on the rear bogie had come off the track at a turnout. The captain notified the LR Operations Control Centre immediately after bringing the vehicle to a safe stop. With the assistance of LR staff, some 20 passengers had all left the vehicle safely with no injury. She further said two LR routes (namely the Yuen Long-bound Route 614 and the Siu Hong-bound Route 614P) had to be diverted during the handling of the incident. The MTRCL had arranged free shuttle buses between LR Tuen Mun and Siu Hong Stops. After emergency repairs by engineers, LR services had returned to normal the following morning. She said the MTRCL was very concerned about the incident and had apologised to the affected passengers. She added that the company would conduct a thorough investigation to find out the cause of the

Action incident, which was due to be completed within three months.

142. Mr Winson TSE of the MTRCL said a full-scale investigation of the incident was underway and the company would not rule out any possibility. After the incident, the MTRCL had replaced the rail tracks at the location concerned and repaired the damaged signal equipment to ensure smooth operation. Moreover, the MTRCL had stepped up inspections of turnouts of the same type and strengthened the oiling and grinding of rail tracks; it would also expedite the replacement of rails. He further said the MTRCL had strengthened the maintenance of main turnouts in the LR system since 2 September 2020, and while the works were mainly carried out late at night, some of the works still needed to be done during the day, so LR vehicles would slow down when passing through the turnouts concerned. With a very strict maintenance system in place, the MTRCL would carry out preventive maintenance works to railway infrastructure such as rails and turnouts. The MTRCL had strengthened the upkeep of some turnouts in recent years, and its maintenance team would carry out maintenance according to priority.

143. In response to Members’ concern about the impact of maintenance works on LR services, Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said the current LR deceleration arrangement had been in force for about one week and the company was closely monitoring the situation. Although the total journey time might increase by about five minutes on some services, the impact on the overall frequency was limited. If the MTRCL found that service frequency was significantly affected by the deceleration during peak hours, it would make operational adjustments to maintain services.

144. Mr WONG Hung-ming said the MTRCL representatives’ had not explained the cause of the incident in their responses.

145. Mr CHOW Kai-lim noted that the MTRCL had adjusted the course of Route 505 after a derailment had taken place on the track section of the captioned incident many years before. In this connection, he asked whether the MTRCL had other measures in place to protect the safety of passengers in addition to deceleration.

146. Mr Winson TSE of the MTRCL said a full-scale investigation of the incident was underway and the company would not rule out any possibility. As the incident was still under investigation, no further information was available at the moment. Moreover, the MTRCL had stepped up the oiling and grinding of turnouts and

Action would replace rail tracks when necessary.

147. Mr HO Kwok-ho asked whether the MTRCL would investigate whether the captioned incident had anything to do with the LR vehicle type.

148. The Chairman asked whether the MTRCL would provide the affected people with discounts as compensation for the incident and the LR deceleration arrangement.

149. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said that after the investigation of the incident, the company would report on the results to the TTC. She added that the MTRCL would strengthen the upkeep of turnouts and daily maintenance. Moreover, to ensure safe operation, the MTRCL regularly checked the systems of LR vehicles that came into service in different years before the vehicles were used to carry passengers. Besides, new vehicles were required to pass a series of statutory tests and obtain approval before they were put into service. As regards compensation to passengers, under the Fare Adjustment Mechanism, if a delay of 31 minutes or more was caused by factors within the MTRCL’s control, the MTRCL should offer fare discounts to passengers as compensation. If the captioned incident met the above criteria, the MTRCL would offer fare discounts according to the mechanism.

150. Mr TSANG Kam-wing asked whether the incident was associated with play in the turnouts and whether the MTRCL had standards for play in turnouts.

151. Mr Winson TSE of the MTRCL said the company checked railway facilities such as tracks and overhead equipment regularly and carried out maintenance when necessary.

152. The Vice Chairman asked whether the MTRCL would provide the affected people with discounts as compensation.

153. Ms Annie LAM of the MTRCL said that under the Fare Adjustment Mechanism, if a delay of 31 minutes or more was caused by factors within the MTRCL’s control, the MTRCL should offer fare discounts to passengers as compensation. If the captioned incident met the above criteria, the MTRCL would offer fare discounts according to the mechanism.

Action 154. The Chairman concluded by asking the MTRCL to report on the results to the TTC after the investigation of the captioned incident was completed.

VI. Any Other Business and Date of Next Meeting 155. The Chairman said he would discuss with the Secretariat the arrangements for a special meeting to deal with matters not yet discussed at the meeting.

156. There being no other business, the meeting was closed at 1:33 p.m. The next meeting would be held at 9:30 a.m. on 12 October 2020 (Monday).

[Post-meeting note: The matters not yet discussed at the meeting were followed up at the 5th TTC meeting on 12 October 2020.]

Tuen Mun District Council Secretariat Date: December 2020 File Ref: HAD TMDC/13/25/TTC/20