Policy Comments & Advocacy

Green Power, a local charitable green group, would like to draw your kind attention to our initial response to Traffic and Transport strategy Study (TTSS) conducted by Transport Department which intends to map out a long-term strategy blueprint for Hong Kong.

We stress that transport sector of Hong Kong is one of the key contributors to various health, social and environmental problems that regrettably have not been addressed in the public consultation of TTSS recently, that includes:

Pollution Emission

(a) Air pollution (e.g. nitrogen oxides and particulate matter) caused by emission of local and cross-border vehicular fleet,

(b) Noise nuisance of roads and railways to neighouring residents and sensitive receivers such as schools, homes for the aged and hospitals,

(c) Greenhouse gases emission (mainly carbon dioxide) from fossil fuels (petrol, diesel and liquifies petroleum gas) combustion in internal engines of automobiles,

(d) Decking of natural or manmade channels for building roads or railways may render pollution control for channels inefficient or technically problematic (e.g. odour problem at outfall near Riviera Gardens, Tsuen Wan).

Ecological Threats

(e) Permanent loss, destruction, degradation and fragmentation of habitats by transport facilities and infrastructures (e.g. loss of natural shorelines on Lantau North),

(f) Road kill of wild animals and bird collision caused by transparent noise barriers,

(g) Animal passage across the road was not properly designed (e.g. animal passage under Route 3 at Ting Kau Portal of Tai Lam Tunnel),

(h) Intention to open Lantau closed roads, i.e. Tung Chung Road and South Lantau Road that contradicts the policy ““Development in the North; Conservation for the South” and threatens the environment, ecology and water gathering ground of Lantau Island,

(i) Review on tree planting strategy for road greening, i.e. tree species selection, planting locations and density, maintenance, tree pit conditions, and no consideration for relieving urban heat island effect, green screening against dust and noise nuisance,

Drainage Impacts

(j) Alternation or obtrusion of surface runoff pathways that leads to flooding during heavy rainstorms in low-lying areas,

(k) Introduction of Sustainable Urban Drainage System (e.g. permeable surface, bioswale) to reduce the pollution loading from the road surface runoff,

(l) Decking of natural or manmade channels also eliminates the possibility of river revitalization and establishment of blue-green infrastructure, and increase the flooding risk upstream,

Social Issues

(m) Segregation and isolation of rural and urban communities by roads or railways (e.g. Pat Heung in Kam Tin by West Rail, and Ma Wan Chung in Tung Chung isolated by roads),

(n) Inaction to relieve the transport and traffic loading of old districts during the transport planning (e.g. transport planning of Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area and Yuen Long South Development),

(o) Introduction of transport facilities without adequate and comprehensive study (e.g. proposed footbridge connected to MTR Long Ping Station that omitted the role of MTR Yuen Long Station and other pedestrian pathway and other alternative measures such as control of )

Transport Sustainability

(p) Failure to control the growth of private cars that induces traffic congestion, associated need for carparks/parking spaces, and additional air and noise pollution.

(q) No policy to provide safe and convenient pedestrian passage at the junctions of roads/railway and footpath/cycling pathway,

(r) No guidelines proposed for provision of healthy and quality pedestrian environment in view of adverse weather conditions associated with climate change and serious roadside air pollution,

(s) Further rationalization of franchised buses in terms of frequency, routes and passenger capacity that improve the transport and energy efficiency,

(t) Upgrading of Environmentally Friendly Transport Systems in new development areas to ascertain the use of green transport modes and cut carbon emission,

Thank you for your kind attention and we look forward to your positive feedback.

For any enquiries, please contact the undersigned at Green Power (T: 3961 0200, Fax: 2314 2661, Email: info@greenpower.org.hk)