TD met Lantau residents on Tung Chung Road issues

Transport Department (TD) officials met Lantau residents representatives this (November 23) evening and listened to their views on Tung Chung Road and its permits system.

The representatives were informed that Tung Chung Road Prohibited Zone Permits had been issued for Lantau villagers and Lantau based business. TD had done its best to meet residents' needs, under guidelines agreed with the then District Board in 1997. Under these guidelines,the number of permits issued for this purpose had increased by nearly two fold, from 128 to 340, since the opening of the Lantau Link. They were also told that TD had been continuously improving Tung Chung Road. In the past three years, the Government completed more than 30 items of local improvement works along the road. These include lengthening of existing passing bays, provision of additional passing bays, local carriageway widening at sharp bends and enhancement of sightline. The widening works of the section of Tung Chung Road near the Cheung Sha Catchwater was just completed last Friday (November 18).

In the next three to six months, six more locations on Tung Chung Road will be further improved. The works include widening and straightening of certain sections and laying of anti-skid materials on critical sections. TD will arrange a site visit with Islands District Councillors and Lantau residents in the coming weeks to identify more locations on Tung Chung Road for further improvement.

The residents were told that despite these improvements, Tung Chung Road is still substandard for two-way traffic at most of its sections. Given its limited capacity, it is still necessary to control the use of the road by the permits system. There may also be the need to consider traffic management measures.

TD has always been conscious of both the travel need of the local residents and the need of the travelling public at large. In view of the limited capacity of the road, there is a genuine need to maintain reliable operation of franchised bus thereon, which is the most efficient transport mode in terms of number of passengers carried. TD has reviewed the permit system constantly and will continue to be cautious in examining applications for Tung Chung Road permits.

TD is now conducting a review on the permit system in the following aspects:-

TD will consult the Islands District Council Traffic and Transport Committee on December 11, 2000 on detailed proposals.

End/Thursday, November 23, 2000

	the length of the prohibited zone period;
	the issue of the permit;
	the use of the road by dangerous goods vehicles; and
	the arrangements for traffic and transport management on Tung Chung Road in case of contingencies.