Minutes of the 9th Meeting of
Traffic and Transport Committee (2014-15)
Central and Western District Council
Date / : / 30July 2015 (Thursday)Time / : / 2:40 pm
Venue / : / Conference Room
14/F, Harbour Building
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Present:Chairlady
Ms CHENG Lai-king*
Vice-chairman
Mr HUI Chi-fung*
Members
Mr CHAN Chit-kwai, BBS, JP*
Mr CHAN Choi-hi, MH*
Mr CHAN Ho-lim, Joseph(2:40 pm – 3:42 pm,
4:52 pm –5:15 pm)
Mr CHAN Hok-fung, MH*
Mr CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, JP(2:40 pm – 2:41 pm)
Mr CHEUNG Yick-hung, Jackie*
Mr IP Kwok-him, GBS, JP*
Mr KAM Nai-wai, MH(2:40 pm – 5:20 pm)
Mr LEE Chi-hang, Sidney(2:40 pm – 3:16 pm,
4:50 pm –end of the meeting)
Miss LO Yee-hang*
Ms SIU Ka-yi*
Mr MAN Chi-wah, MH(3:49 pm –end of the meeting)
Mr NG Siu-keung, Thomas, MH, JP*
Mr WONG Kin-shing*
Mr YIP Wing-shing, BBS, MH, JP*
Co-opted Members
Mr CHAN Wing-ho*
Mr LEE Ching-hang*
Mr WONG Sai-kit*
Mr YEUNG Hoi-wing*
Remarks: *Members who attended the whole meeting
( )Time of attendance of Members
Item 4(i)
Mr CHIU Cheuk-siu / Senior Engineer/Central Wanchai Bypass 2, Highways Department
Mr YU Hing-wai / Senior Resident Engineer, AECOM Asia Company Limited
Mr LAU Wai-tang, Andrew / Construction Manager, Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited
Item 4(ii)
Mr NG Hon-lai, Patrick / Chief Transport Officer/Bus and Railway Branch, Transport Department
Mr CHIU Ho-ming, Curtis / Senior Transport Officer/Bus and Railway Branch, Transport Department
Mr Mistral SIN / Manager (Planning), Citybus Limited/New World First Bus Services Limited
Mr Brian NG / Senior Planning Officer, Citybus Limited/
New World First Bus Services Limited
Mr Kevin LI / Public Affairs Manager, Citybus Limited/
New World First Bus Services Limited
Ms Agnes CHOW / Senior External Affairs Officer, Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited
Item 5
Mr LOK Chun-chung, Francis / Engineer/Central and Western 1,
Transport Department
Miss TSUI Shuk-ting, Yvonne / Senior Transport Officer/Central and Western,
Transport Department
Mr YUEN Chi-wai / Chief Operations Officer,
New World First Bus Services Limited
Item 6
Mr LAM Shu-kee, Philip / Engineer/Central and Western 2,
Transport Department
Mr Benny CHIA, BBS / Founder and Director, the Fringe Club
Item 7
Mr NG Tit-ho, Leo / Engineer/Special Duty,Transport Department
Mr LAU Wing-fu / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Western District),Hong Kong Police Force
Item 8
Miss LEUNG Cheuk-lam, Shirley / Engineer/Central and Western 3,
Transport Department
Mr LAU Wing-fu / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Western District),Hong Kong Police Force
Item 9
Mr HONG Kwai-sum / Senior Engineer 2/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department
Ms YUEN Pui-shan, Priscilla / Engineer 4/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department
Mr LEUNG Ka-yin / Project Supervisor 1/Universal Accessibility,
Civil Engineering and Development Department
Item 10
Mr LAM Shu-kee, Philip / Engineer/Central and Western 2,
Transport Department
Mr LUNG Wai-fung / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Central District),Hong Kong Police Force
Mr LAM Siu-ming / Chairman, Owners’ Corporation of 47
Staunton Street and 7-13 Elgin Street
Item 11
Mr CHEUNG Chi-yeung, Fabian / Senior Transport Officer/Transport Facilities Management, Transport Department
Mr MOK Wai-yin, Edward / Senior Engineer/Project 6,
Electrical andMechanical Services Department
Mr LEUNG Hing-tung, Gary / Electrical & Mechanical Engineer/Project 6/3, Electrical andMechanical Services Department
Mr HONG Kwai-sum / Senior Engineer 2/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department
Ms CHEUNG Wing-yan / Assistant Engineer 2/Universal Accessibility, Highways Department
Item 12
Mr LAM Shu-kee, Philip / Engineer/Central and Western 2,
Transport Department
Mr LUNG Wai-fung / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Central District),Hong Kong Police Force
In Attendance:
Miss CHOW Ho-kiu, Cheryl, JP / District Officer (Central and Western)
Miss LAM Bing-bing, Erica / Assistant District Officer (Central and Western)
Ms WONG Ming-wai / Senior Executive Officer (District Council),
Central and Western District Office
Miss YU Yan-yan, Rosanna / Senior Executive Officer (District Management),Central and Western District Office
Miss TSUI Shuk-ting, Yvonne / Senior Transport Officer/Central and Western,
Transport Department
Mr LOK Chun-chung, Francis / Engineer/Central and Western 1,
Transport Department
Mr LAM Shu-kee, Philip / Engineer/Central and Western 2,
Transport Department
Miss LEUNG Cheuk-lam, Shirley / Engineer/Central and Western 3,
Transport Department
Mr NG Tit-ho, Leo / Engineer/Special Duty, Transport Department
MrLO Kai-kwei, Richard / Senior District Engineer/Hong Kong Northwest, Highways Department
Mr WONG Siu-wah, Pierre / Senior Engineer 11 (Hong Kong Island Division 1), Civil Engineering and Development Department
Mr LUNG Wai-fung / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Central District), Hong Kong Police Force
Mr LAU Wing-fu / Officer-in-Charge, District Traffic Team
(Western District), Hong Kong Police Force
Secretary
Miss HUI Lok-yam, Noel / Executive Officer (District Council) 2,
Central and Western District Office
Absent with Apologies:
Dr Malcolm LAM
Mr LEUNG King-yue, Alex / Co-opted Member
Mr CHAN Tsz-kwan / Co-opted Member
Mr CHAN Chi-ming, Lawrence / Senior Engineer/Central and Western, Transport Department
Mr WAI Hon-kwok / Principal Technical Officer (Traffic)/Southern & Peak, Transport Department
Ms PANG Siu-chun, Evita / District Operations Officer (Central District), Hong Kong Police Force
MsFUNG Ka-ying / District Operations Officer (Western District), Hong Kong Police Force
Opening Remarks
The Chairlady welcomed Members and representatives from government departments to the 9th meeting of the Traffic and Transport Committee (TTC) (2014-15).
Item 1: / Adoption of the Agenda2. The Committee adopted the agenda.
Item 2: / Confirmation of the Minutes of the 8th TTC Meeting on 11 June 20153.The Chairlady said that the Secretariat had received amendments to the minutes fromMr Joseph CHAN before the meeting. The proposed amendments had been attachedin the fourth batch of papers for Members’ perusal.
4.The Committee confirmed the amended minutes of the 8th meeting.
Item 3: / Chairlady’s Report5.As regards the selected Minor Works Projects and their schedules (as of mid-July 2015), the Secretariat had distributed the report to Members for their perusal before the meeting and had not received any comments from Members.
Item 4(i):Standing Item: Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) and Island Eastern Corridor Link – Report on the Progress of the Central Interchange Project(C&W TTC Paper No. 48/2015)
(2:44 pm – 2:55 pm)
6.Mr CHIU Cheuk-siu, Senior Engineer/CentralWanchai Bypass 2 of the Highways Department (HyD), briefly reported on the major works carried out in the past six months, including the widening of Man Yiu Street and the construction of Yiu Sing Street. The completed structure of the tunnel approach ramp had also been passed to the contractor under the tunnel commissioning contract for implementation in order to continue with the remaining works of the CWB. Moreover, the construction of aflyover and the widening of Man Po Street Flyover were also included. The flyover structures at the above two locations were completed and the works to extend the tunnel approach ramp westward to connect to the at-grade roads in Central would also commence successively. The HyD would continue the widening of the flyover, construction of at-grade roads to connect to the western entrance/exit of the tunnel, and widening of Man Yiu Street and construction ofYiu Sing Street in the coming six months. The works of the Central Interchange were estimated to complete in 2016 while the remaining works of the CWB would continue. However, there were still many challenges and unpredictable situations in future that might lead to delay in CWB works. As mentioned at the previous meeting, the Civil Engineering and Development Department(CEDD) was assessing the impact of the large metal object found in Wan Chai Development Phase II project area. The HyD would assess the impact of the incident on the CWB works as soon as possible after the CEDD completed its assessment. The HyDestimated that the risk of delay for the target to commission in 2017 was quite high at present. The HyD would continue to liaise closely with the CEDD and adopt measures when appropriate to minimise the impact of the incident on CWB works for early commissioning of the CWB.
7.The Chairlady invited discussion on the paper. Mr CHAN Choi-hi asked the HyD to explain the impact of the incident in detail and enquired of the HyD about the measures to expedite the works. Moreover, he enquired about the details of the flyover widening and whether the two flyovers could be linked together.
8.Mr CHIUresponded that the CEDD was currently assessing the impact of the incident on the works of Wan Chai Development Phase II, which might involve the tunnel structure of the CWB under the works of Wan Chai Development Phase II. The HyD commissioned the CEDD to construct the part of the tunnel structure of the CWB concerned under the works contract of Wan Chai Development Phase II. Upon the completion of the tunnel structure by the CEDD, the HyD would implement works of later stages within the tunnel including paving of road surface, installation of tunnel panels, installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, implementation of various system tests, e.g. ventilation system, lighting system and traffic and transport regulation system. Thus the HyD could only assess the impact of the incident on the CWB works and how to tie in with various works of later stages for early commissioning of the CWB upon the completion of the assessment and confirmation of the completion date of the tunnel structure works by the CEDD. The flyover currently being widened would be connected to the western exit of the tunnel while the location for flyover construction on the other side was the access to enter the tunnel for eastbound traffic. The driving directions in the two flyovers were different and would not be linked together. There were two traffic lanes on each of the flyovers. The newly built flyover was around 110 metres long while the flyover being widened was less than 200 metres long.
9.The Chairlady thanked the guests for attending the meeting.
Item 4(ii):Standing Item: The Public Transportation Re-organisation Plans (PT Plans) to tie in with the Commissioning of the West Island Line (WIL)– Proposed Service Adjustment to City Bus No. 40 and 40M (Revised Proposal)(C&W TTC Paper No. 49/2015)
(2:55 pm – 3:55 pm)
10.Mr Patrick NG, Chief Transport Officer/Bus and Railway Branch of the TD, said that concerning the PT plans to tie in with the commissioning of the WIL, the TD had submitted earlier on proposals to adjust the routeings and service levels of Citybus (CTB) routes 40 and 40M, which also consequently affected the bus service arrangements of New World First Bus (NWFB) route 13 and CTB route 40P. After consolidating views of various parties, the TD submitted the newly revised proposal at this meeting.
11.Mr Curtis CHIU, Senior Transport Officer/Bus and Railway Branch of the Transport Department (TD),said that CTB routes 40 and 40M saw a drastic drop in patronage of 35% and 30% respectively upon the commissioning of the WIL. Thus there was a genuine need to re-organise the service arrangements of the two routes. He pointed out that the TD had proposed the amalgamation of CTB routes 40 and 40M with modification of NWFB route 13 and CTB route 40P. In the latest revised proposal, the existing routeing via Castle Road of NWFB route 13 and the service arrangement of the three trips of CTB route 40P would remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the TD proposed to modify the service arrangement of CTB route 40. The terminus in Wan Chai would be relocated from “Admiralty (Central Government Offices)” to “Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange” and the terminus in Southern District would remain unchanged. Southern District/Mid-Levels westbound trips would be diverted via Chi Fu, re-routing via Convention Avenue, Fleming Road, Hennessy Road, Queensway, Cotton Tree Drive, Kennedy Road, Upper Albert Road and Caine Road upon departure from the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange without passing Queen’s Road Central and D’aguilar Street. Admiralty/Wan Chai bound trips would be diverted via Chi Fu in Southern District, passing via eastbound Caine Road at Mid-levels as before. As to the service hours and frequency, the existing service hours would remain unchanged while the frequency would be adjusted to every 15 to 20 minutes on weekdays and 15 to 30 minutes on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. CTB route 40 would be changed to a one-direction service from Southern District to Wan Chai, which would not pass Chi Fu upon departure from Wah Fu north and would continue to travel via eastbound Robinson Road at Mid-levels west to retain the service from Southern District to Robinson Road and from Robinson Road to Admiralty and Wan Chai. The terminus in Wan Chai would be relocated from “Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange” to outside “Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre” at Fleming Road and the terminus at Southern District would remain unchanged. The service hours of the route for departure from Wah Fu would be adjusted to 6 am to 6 pm every day. The frequency would be adjusted to every 20 minutes on weekdays, 20 to 30 minutes on Saturday, and 30 minutes on Sunday and public holidays. The service details and the new bus-bus interchange concession arrangements of the above routes upon adjustment were set out in the Annex to the paper.
12.The Chairlady said that although the paper only included the service adjustments of CTB routes 40 and 40M, she suggested that Members could raise opinions on other serviceproposals underthe PT Plans to tie in with the Commissioning of the WIL. The Chairlady invited discussion on the paper. The enquiriesand views of Members were as follows:
a.Mr WONG Kin-shing said that he objected to the alteration of service hours of route 40 to 6:00 pm. As the period from 6:00 pm onwards was the peak commuting hours, he suggested that the original service hours should remain unchanged. Furthermore, he found it hard to accept that the TD insisted on relocating the termini of routes 104 and 113 to Sheung Wan in the absence of a full public consensus and pointed out that the passenger volume and operating cost should not be the only factors to be taken into account when bus services were concerned. Besides, he reiterated that cross-harbour sectional fare should be introduced to route 101X, otherwise he would oppose its launch of whole-day service.
b.Mr Jackie CHEUNG said that at the previous meeting, the Committee had passed the motion to condemn the TD for cancelling route 3B. By bearing this point in mind, he did not understand why the TD still continued to reduce bus services at Mid-Levels. He, as a Councillor of the Mid-Levels, failed to give an account to residents in the district. He pointed out that route 40 was an important route for residents on Robinson Road and those living in the district. Given the inadequacy of other complementary routes, re-routeing route 40 as one-way traffic and shortening its service hours would leave residents no bus serviceto go home. He strongly opposed to the TD’s rushed decision without full consultation. If the TD insisted on implementing the PT Plans, he urged the TD to consider his proposals in the motion, including resuming the service of route 3B on a limited basis, extending the service hours of route 12M, providing an additional bus stop at Exchange Square, deploying all or most of the resources released from reduced frequency of routes 40 to 40M, re-routeing of route 40M heading for Wah Fu via Fleming Road, Hennessy Road, Queensway and Central as well as studying the provision of additional westbound bus service on Robinson Road. Furthermore, he pointed out that the bus franchise was not aimed at allowingbus companiesto maximise their profits. Although the passenger volume of numerous buses routes serving remote villages in the New Territories was indeed quite low, the bus companies should maintain theseservices. He said that the reduction of bus serviceswas not fair toresidents at Mid-Levels. Even though the capacity of individual bus routes had only been utilised by 30%, members of the public should be provided with the services. In addition, he suggested that the PT Plans should be suspended for five months until the start of a new District Council (DC) term. The TD could then re-submit the data for discussion.
c.Miss SIU Ka-yi said that she opposed to the TD’s proposal and the re-routeing of route 40 as one-way traffic. This was because residents living in the vicinity of the Mid-Levels could not benefit from the MTR and the TD truncated the route without providing any alternative proposals for them.
d.Miss LO Yee-hang said that she opposed to the new arrangements for routes 40 and 40M because residents living in the vicinity of the Mid-Levels could not benefit from the MTR. Complaints had even been received from residents at Sai Ying Punagainst the arrangements. She also opposed to the relocation of the termini of routes 104 and 113 to Sheung Wan. In addition, some members of the public had relayed to her that the service frequency of buses during peak hours was reduced after the commissioning of the WIL. In this connection, she asked the bus companies to enhance the frequency to maintain a satisfactory level of service.