MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese):

In fact, there have been serious problems regarding the traffic to and from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in the past few years. Whenever a large cruise vessel berths at the Cruise Terminal, serious traffic congestion will arise in the entire area of Kowloon Bay. The Government has all along claimed that there will be a solution in the future, including the widening of Shing Cheong Road and Shing Fung Road. May I ask the Secretary when this problem will be solved? Will it be possible to resolve in 2022 the congestion problem resulting from the fact that there is only one road leading to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal at present?

 

On the other hand, there is a car park on Shing Fung Road at the runway tip. Presently, the relevant government departments often say that not so many tourist coaches are allowed to enter there due to the narrow road, but there exists a coach car park. Regarding this problem, does the Government have a solution to deal with the parking arrangement of vehicles heading for the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal at the runway tip through Shing Fung Road, while facilitating smoother traffic flow at the same time?

 

UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese):

My thanks go to Mr YIU Si-wing for his supplementary question. Mr YIU Si-wing enquired rather specifically about the ancillary transport facilities of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, and we are also keeping a close watch on the issue of ancillary transport facilities. TD has been monitoring the passenger demand. At present, we have four public transport service routes connecting the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Kowloon Bay Station, Ngau Tau Kok Station, Kwun Tong Station, Kowloon Tong Station and Kai Tak Station. Upon the arrival of a cruise vessel, the Cruise Terminal operator will arrange free shuttle buses with the nearby shopping malls to take passengers to and from the nearby MTR stations. Paid shuttle bus services to Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom will also be provided according to the needs of the passengers. In addition, the Cruise Terminal operator also disseminates from time to time information of the Cruise Terminal to urban taxi associations and trade unions, with a view to strengthening taxi services at the terminal upon the arrival of a cruise vessel. We will keep the specific road arrangements closely in view and improve the relevant services as well.

 

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese):

The Secretary has not answered whether the congestion problem at Shing Fung Road or Shing Cheong Road that I have mentioned just now will be solved after the roads are widened in 2022.

 

UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HOUSING (in Cantonese):

We will closely monitor the arrangements and development of each road. We will also maintain communication with stakeholders in a timely manner, in the hope that traffic issues can be resolved through positive interactions among various parties.