December 17, 2015

Hong Kong lawmakers slam anti-congestion plan

Transport panel calls for exceptions to fines and congestion charge

DANNY.LEE@SCMP.COM

PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 16 December, 2015, 5:28pm

UPDATED : Wednesday, 16 December, 2015, 5:28pm

The government hopes to fight traffic jams with a vehicle congestion charge and an increase in motoring fines. Photo: SCMP Pictures.

Lawmakers piled on criticism against the government’s traffic congestion-busting plan at a Legislative Council hearing this morning.

The transport panel mobilised to call for exceptions to increased motoring fines and a congestion charge for professional drivers and businesses.

The government last week launched a three-month consultation on the implementation of a vehicle congestion charge and an increase in motoring fines in a bid to reverse the trend of traffic coming to a standstill in Central district and the surrounding areas.

READ MORE: Hong Kong transport panel backs road congestion fee as ‘effective’ way to ease traffic in Central

At the hearing, lawmakers lined up to criticise the police for lack of enforcement and for not stepping up patrols in the affected areas.

Lawmakers berated Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung over the lack of provisions and resources to increase the number of parking spaces, which often led to illegal parking and road blockages.

The transport panel later passed a motion against an increase in fines unless the misallocation of parking spaces was resolved.


Lawmakers argue that fines and fees are not enough to deal with road congestion. Photo: SCMP pictures.

A number of lawmakers, who have been in contact with motoring groups, professional drivers and business groups following the start of the consultation, said they opposed the scheme. The government was urged to exempt professional drivers from fines.

Legco deputy transport panel chairman Tang Ka-piu urged for commercial and business vehicles to be exempted because they have “no choice” about entering the congestion charge area.

Transport secretary Cheung gave the clearest signal yet that the government would look seriously at exemptions as a means to reduce opposition to the consultation’s two key proposals.

“Exemptions are crucial because it really depends on which exemptions you allow. What kind of vehicles could be considered for exemptions?,” Cheung said. “For any charging scheme, if we have too many exemptions, then the impact of the scheme might be jeopardised.”

READ MORE: Hong Kong’s new tax on cars in Central: Will people pay to drive through the city?

Commercial lawmaker and executive councillor Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung asked for more police officers and traffic wardens in districts that are hugely congested to stop cars from stopping or parking in those areas. “I think if better management was arranged, then there would be fewer conflicts among drivers,” he said.

Hong Kong police said they were open to trialling harsher enforcement to free up traffic, including towing and clamping offenders.

Matthew Lindsay, chief superintendent for traffic, said: “Our priority in busy areas is to make sure there is no double parking. Certainly we’ll take a look at stricter enforcement and enhanced enforcement in the Central district area.

http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1891885/hong-kong-lawmakers-slam-anti-congestion-plan