PLC Paper No. CB(1) 27/97-98
(These minutes have been seen
by the Administration and
cleared with the Chairman)
Ref : CB1/PL/TP/1

LegCo Panel on Transport

Minutes of special meeting held on Thursday, 5 June 1997, at 8:30 am in Conference Room A of the Legislative Council Building

Members present :

Members absent :

Attendance by invitation :

For Item VI
Mass Transit Railway Corporation
Mr R J Black: Project Director
Mr Eric TANG: Corporate Controller

Public officers attending :

For Item IV
Transport Branch
Mr Gordon SIU, JP: Secretary for Transport
Mr Paul LEUNG, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Infrastructure)
Miss Nancy LAW, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)
Mr Allan CHOW: Principal Assistant Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)
Transport Department
Mrs Dorothy CHAN, JP. Ag.: Commissioner for Transport
Mr LI Shu-ming: Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Technical Services
Mr Brian Grogan: Chief Engineer/Traffic and Transport Surveys
For Item V
Transport Branch
Mr Gordon SIU, JP: Secretary for Transport
Mr Paul LEUNG, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Infrastructure)
Miss Nancy LAW, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)
Mr Allan CHOW: Principal Assistant Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)
Transport Department
Mrs Dorothy CHAN, JP. Ag.: Commissioner for Transport
Mr LI Shu-ming: Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Technical Services
Mr Brian Grogan: Chief Engineer/Traffic and Transport Surveys
For Item VI
Transport Branch
Mr Gordon SIU, JP: Secretary for Transport
Mr Paul LEUNG, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Infrastructure)
Miss Nancy LAW, JP: Deputy Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)
Mr Allan CHOW: Principal Assistant Secretary for Transport (Transport Management)

Clerk in attendance :

Ms Estella CHAN: Chief Assistant Secretary (1)4

Staff in attendance :

Mr Matthew LOO: Senior Assistant Secretary (1)4 (Atg)

I Confirmation of minutes and matters arising

II Information papers issued since last meeting

III Items for discussion at the next meeting scheduled for 13 June 1997

IV Parking Demand Study and

V Freight Transport Study

VI Progress of the Airport Railway project

VII Any other business

I Confirmation of minutes and matters arising

(LegCo Papers No. CB(1) 1675 and 1762/96-97)

The minutes of meetings held on 14 March and 11 April 1997 were confirmed.

II Information papers issued since last meeting

(LegCo Paper No. CB(1) 1528/96-97 - submission and Administrations response regarding Hongkong & Yaumati Ferry Company Limiteds services and its fare increase for 1997

LegCo Paper No. CB(1) 1632/96-97 - information package by the New Lantao Bus Co. (1973) Ltd. containing its financial and operational information)

2. The Panel noted that two information papers had been issued since last meeting. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation had also issued the Airport Railway Project Progress Report (Quarter ended 31 March 1997) to all Members directly.

III Items for discussion at the next meeting scheduled for 13 June 1997

(Paper No. CB(1) 1728/96-97(01) - list of outstanding items for discussion)

3. The Chairman advised that the following would be discussed at the meeting on 13 June 1997:

Franchise renewal of China Motor Bus Co. Ltd.;
Franchise renewal of Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd.; and
Long term development of ferry services.

IV Parking Demand Study and

V Freight Transport Study

(Paper No. CB(1) 1728/96-97(02) provided by the Administration)

4. As the two studies were related, members agreed to discuss both items at the same time. At the Chairmans invitation, the Chief Engineer/Traffic and Transport Surveys (CE) advised members of the revised assessment of the Parking Demand Study (PDS) and the Freight Transport Study (FTS) based on the actual position in December 1996 and updated forecasts for 2001. According to the revised assessment, the situation of parking spaces for private vehicles was similar to that in the PDS of December 1995 and the forecast for 2001 was still one of a surplus on a territory wide basis. The situation for goods vehicles improved with a decrease in shortfall in both 1996 and in 2001. The demand for goods vehicle parking spaces had declined between 1994 and 1996 as a result of the reduction in the overall number of goods vehicles. The demand for light goods vehicle parking spaces had decreased while that for medium and heavy goods vehicles and container vehicles had increased, with a drop in overall demand. The demand figures take account of the number of goods vehicles which remain in China overnight and therefore do not require a parking space in Hong Kong. There was a theoretical surplus of container vehicles parking spaces in 1996: the supply of goods vehicle parking spaces in short-term tenancy (STT), off-street and on-street sites had increased, and there were 7,000 tolerated parking spaces available for container vehicles in the New Territories. This surplus of parking spaces in STT and tolerated sites would provide relief for parking of medium/heavy goods vehicles. In summary, the revised assessment reconfirmed that on a territory-wide basis the situation with regard to private cars was reasonable. With regards to goods vehicles the shortfalls in both 1996 and 2001 were much lower than those assessed in the PDS but were nevertheless still serious and require concerted remedial action.

5. Members noted that there were considerable inconsistencies between PDS and the revised assessment in the forecast of the number of goods vehicles. In response, CE advised that the PDS projections had been based on the most up to date forecasts of future goods vehicle fleet size available at the time of the assessment, i.e. 1994. These were the same forecasts as used in the Second Comprehensive Transport Study and FTS. The goods vehicle fleet size was then expected to increase to 206,000 vehicles by 2001. Subsequently, based on a decreasing trend in the goods vehicle numbers over recent years, the 2001 fleet size was now expected to be only around 125,000 vehicles. In response to a members concern, CE advised that the predicted fleet size did not assume any reduction in numbers as a result of the commissioning of the WCR freight line. As regards the projected parking demand for 2006, the Administration would focus on meeting the shortfall in 2001 in the first place and update the forecast for 2006 when more concrete information was available.

6. A member commented that the revised assessment seemed accurate as the rental of container vehicle parking spaces in Kwai Tsing had dropped significantly. He considered the market price a good indicator of supply and demand of parking space, and enquired whether the Administration had used this to counter check the accuracy of the assessment. CE responded that the Administration had received comments from some STT parking operators who had complained that their sites were under-utilized. This was supported by the results of the Administrations survey which indicated that overall STT sites were only 70% utilized. He agreed that car park rentals could reflect the supply and demand situation and this factor would be taken into account when pursuing recommendations in both studies. The Secretary for Transport (S for T) undertook to include information on parking fees or rentals in future assessments.

7. On better utilization of parking spaces for private cars, the Acting Commissioner for Transport (Ag. C for T) advised that the Administration had already encouraged public car park operators to charge different fees for day and night sessions. As some carparks in private premises were owned by the residents, it might not be possible to utilize these parking spaces even if they were vacant in day time. The Administration would consider means to better utilize parking spaces in private premises.

8. About the supply of container vehicle parking spaces in STT sites and the tolerated parking spaces on agricultural land in the New Territories, members were concerned that the Lands Department (LANDS) might terminate the STTs or take enforcement actions against tolerated parking, which would result in a drastic decrease in supply of these spaces. They noticed some complaints about replacements not being offered to STT car park operators when their STTs expired. The Deputy Secretary for Transport (DS for T) and the Assistant Commissioner for Transport/Technical Services (AC for T) advised that representatives from LANDS in the inter-departmental Working Group formed to tackle parking and other freight transport problems were fully aware of the problems and STT sites would be granted for car park operation with priority. In the past few years, more STT sites had been identified and secured for parking purposes. LANDS would also try to locate suitable replacements in the vicinity for those STT sites which had been scheduled for other developments. As a long-term solution, the Working Group had identified ten sites for inclusion in the land sales programme of the next three years for multi-purpose developments with multi-storey car parks. As regards the 7,000 tolerated spaces which had already been in use, CE clarified that these parking spaces were distributed over 70 hectares of land in the New Territories. All the land had received permission for development and the operations were legal subject to agreement of the landowner. All of this land was either in use prior to the enactment of the Town Planning Ordinance amendments or had been granted planning permission subsequently. Subject to the wishes of the land owner therefore it would remain in use for parking purposes. Notwithstanding, members were not fully convinced of the response. They urged the Transport Department to work closely with LANDS on locating suitable sites for these operators when their STTs expired.

9. Ag C for T advised that the Administration would discuss illegal parking problems with the respective district boards of those districts where there was a shortage of facilities. Short-term solutions such as finding suitable STT sites for car parks, increasing the number of overnight on-street parking and stepping up enforcement actions against illegal parking in busy areas would be considered.

10. In response to members enquiry, CE advised that the recommendations in the PDS relating to the revision of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines had been implemented in October 1996. New property developments had to accord with the new standard. A flexible arrangement had been adopted for private residential areas. For example a ratio ranging from four to seven flats per parking space would apply to new private residential developments in zone 1 areas depending on the demand for parking facilities in the district concerned. Comparing with the fixed ratio adopted in the past, this new arrangement would effectively control the supply of private car parking spaces in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. CE undertook to provide details of the original and revised versions of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines for members reference.

Admin

11. A member cited a case where a property developer in Hung Shui Kiu had held up the opening of a car park until a certain percentage of residents had moved into the premises. AC for T remarked that the lease conditions of private residential developments normally only specified the number of parking spaces to be provided, and would not contain such conditions for the opening of the car park as mentioned by the member. DS for T agreed to follow up this case in the Working Group.

12. The Chairman was concerned about the competitiveness of the freight transport industry in Hong Kong in view of the decreasing number of goods vehicles. In response, S for T admitted that the mode of cross-border traffic in Hong Kong had changed in the past few years. The number of container vehicles crossing the border had increased whereas other types of goods vehicles had decreased. More traders had turned to waterborne transport along the Pearl River. In addition, the Administration had been considering different means to relieve cross-harbour traffic such as the provision of freight services by the East Rail during night time. The feasibility of locating suitable sites in China for storage of empty containers was also being explored. He advised that the Administration would closely monitor the situation and report to the Panel on the updated development annually.

VI Progress of the Airport Railway project

(Paper No. CB(1) 1728/96-97(03) provided by the Administration)

13. At the Chairmans invitation, Mr R J Black briefed members on the progress of the Airport Railway (AR) project. In brief, construction activity on AR continued with high intensity. Approximately 90% of the civil engineering works had been completed and some 70% of the trackwork had been laid. The nature of work had changed from heavy civil engineering works to fitting-out and installation of railway systems and equipment. Risks to the programme were currently associated with rapid mobilization of skilled electrical and mechanical labour. Nevertheless, the June 1998 programmed opening date for AR was still achievable. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) was also liaising with the Airport Authority to keep in view the progress of the new airport with a view to accelerating works of AR to match the opening of the new airport.

14. Members were concerned about whether the completion of AR could tie in with the opening of the new airport. In response, Mr Black advised that as advancement of the completion date would incur additional payments to contractors, it was inappropriate from the commercial point of view to start the negotiation with contractors prior to official announcement of the opening date of the new airport. S for T said that he was fully confident that AR would be completed when the new airport opened in April 1998.

15. Mr Black also advised that a large number of the civil labour force had completed its work and left the AR project since the latter half of 1997. The contractors ability to mobilize sufficient skilled electrical and mechanical labour for subsequent works remained an area of concern, particularly with regard to the shortage of electricians in Hong Kong. If the contractors failed to recruit sufficient skilled labour in Hong Kong, they might have to import labour from overseas. Notwithstanding, he assured members that the situation was still manageable and the programme remained achievable.

VII Any other business

16. There being no other business, the meeting ended at 10:15 a.m.

Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat
11 July 1997

Last Updated on 22 August 1998