Summary of Discussions and Decisions of the 9th Meeting of the Traffic, Transport and Housing Committee held on 27 July 2017

Opening Remarks

The Chairman welcomed Members and Government Representatives to the meeting.

Item 1 Confirmation of Minutes of Last Meeting

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

Item 2 Matter Arising:

— Problem of Insufficient Parking Spaces in Yau Tsim Mong District (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 44/2017)

3. Representative of the Transport Department (“TD”) provided figures of roadside and non-roadside public parking spaces. He suggested granting land adjacent to Lin Cheung Road, Jordan on a short-term lease basis to set up a temporary carpark for reprovisioning of 700 private car parking spaces. In the long run, the TD would strive for in-situ reprovisioning of the parking spaces after the reconstruction of the Multi-storey Carpark.

4. Some Members were of the view that traffic around Elements was congested, and it would be improper to gather these once cancelled parking spaces in one single spot. They believed that the parking spaces should be scatted among different areas. Some Members were against the provision of a temporary carpark on Lin Cheung Road, Jordan. They also said that the TD had failed to consult the locality and had not provided sufficient information.

Item 3 2017 Cyclothon (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 53/2017)

5. Members noted the content of the paper.

1 Item 4 Suggestion to Provide Additional Seats and Real-time Bus Arrival Information Panel at Bus Stop, Western Harbour Tunnel ( Side) (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 54/2017)

6. Representative of the TD indicated that since the entry to the Western Harbour Tunnel was located in private premises of the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited (“WHTCL”), the suggestion could not be included in the government subsidy scheme for provision of seats and display panels for real-time bus arrival information at bus stops and termini. Representative of the TD hoped that the bus companies would consider Members’ views and discuss with the WHTCL as soon as possible.

Item 5 Express Rail Link – Progress Updates for Terminus Construction and Related Temporary Traffic Management Scheme (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 55/2017)

7. Members noted the content of the paper. Some Members were concerned about the reflection of the glass curtain walls, as well as the hygiene condition of the topside green belt of the Express Rail Link station.

8. The MTR Corporation Limited (“MTRCL”) would arrange for coating of the glass curtain walls in order to reduce the reflection. The MTRCL would also manage the premises in a professional manner to avoid breeding of mosquitoes.

Item 6 Request for Additional Exit at Yau Ma Tei MTR Station Leading to Kwong Wah Hospital (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 56/2017)

9. Members in general were supportive of the suggestion. Moreover, they believed that the TD should take the lead in the request for additional exit leading to Kwong Wah Hospital.

10. Representatives of the Hospital Authority indicated that in providing the additional exit, the main hurdle was the difficulty in finding a suitable place for the ventilation opening. The TD expressed that they did not have the authority for a leading role.

Item 7 Request for Noise Barriers along West Kowloon Corridor (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 57/2017)

11. Representative of the Highways Department (“HyD”) said that the structure of the flyover could not bear the extra load brought about by the retrofitting of noise barriers. Erection of independent noises barriers on the ground would affect the streets around the flyover. Therefore, provision of noise barriers was technically not feasible. 2

12. Besides, some Members hoped that the Hong Kong Police Force (“HKPF”) would focus their operations against illegal car racing on weekends. They also hoped that speed detecting devices would be installed.

Item 8 Calling for Measures to Address Occupation of Pavement and Parking Spaces Opposite to Man Sun House, 163-173 Portland Street for Collection of Recyclables, which Causes Serious Environmental Hygiene and Pedestrian Safety Problems (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 58/2017)

13. A Member said that government departments had failed to address the problem.

14. The HKPF were concerned about illegal parking of collection vehicles. However, a number of cases showed that these vehicles were not parked in the same parking space continually, and some of the collection vehicles had already paid the parking meter fees. As a result, advice was the only action the Police could take.

15. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department would initiate prosecution against those who obstructed cleansing operations and ignored repeated advice, as well as those who dismantled waste items in the street for a prolonged period and fouled up the street.

Item 9 Calling for Improvement to Green Minibus Services in (YTMDC TTHC Paper No.59/2017)

16. The TD was working for the launch of a new bus route, which would travel between in Tai Kok Tsui and Muk Ning Street in Kai Tak, via Sham Mong Road. It was expected that the route would start operation in 2018.

17. Legislative provisions on the increase of minibus capacity to 19 seats were gazetted. Since the new minibuses would be longer, adjustment to the parking bays at some minibus terminuses and public transport interchanges might be necessary.

18. The TD would arrange for special departures to ease the problem of long waiting time at en-route stops by deploying “empty minibuses” to pick up passengers at these stops.

Item 10 Strengthening of Green Minibus Route No. 43M Service (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 60/2017)

19. Some members indicated that there were lost trip situations in route number 43M, resulting in long queues of waiting passengers in the morning.

3 20. The TD found that the lost trips were mainly caused by the drivers’ absence and old age of the green minibuses serving route number 43M. The TD would provide possible assistance to the route operator.

Item 11 Zero Accidents On The Road, Ferry Point’s Goal (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 61/2017)

21. Some members said that illegally parking near Man Wah Sun Chuen was serious. They also suggested widening the pavement.

22. The Police would take targeted action against illegal parking at the said place. Representative of the TD indicated that he would conduct site visit and discuss street improvement measures with Members and representatives of the other departments.

Item 12 Is “Pedestrian Refuge” Really Safe? (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 62/2017)

23. A member suggested removing one more section of railing at the pedestrian refuge at the junction of Nathan Road and Mong Kok Road.

24. Representative of the TD expressed that a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road was necessary for the “dual-light” system. Moreover, part of the railings erected at the said location had already been removed. There was not much room for further adjustment now.

Item 13 Strong Request for Improvement to Illegal Parking Problem on Pitt Street (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 63/2017)

25. A member expressed that illegal parking at the location mentioned in the paper was serious, but prosecution figure was low.

26. To strengthen enforcement efforts against illegal parking, the Police would take summons action without giving warning in dealing with illegally parked vehicles. The TD would consider stretching the double yellow line at the said location. The TD would follow the consultation procedures before launching the plan.

Item 14 Progress Report on District Traffic Improvement Projects by TD / HyD, including Works Completed, under Construction or Planning in the Past Two Months, with Timetable (as at 11 July 2017) (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 64/2017)

27. Members noted the content of the paper.

4 Item 15 Progress Report on Handling of Dangerous and Abandoned Signboards in YTM District by Buildings Department (YTMDC TTHC Paper No. 65/2017)

28. Members noted the content of the paper.

Item 16 Any Other Business

－ Mong Kok Road Footbridge System at Sai Yee Street— Extension Across Nathan Road (Progress Report as at 11 July 2017)

29. Members noted the construction progress.

YTMDC Secretariat September 2017

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