Untitled - Civic Exchange

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7. THE DYNAMICS OF DECISION-MAKING IN HONG KONG 72 7.1 Introduction 7.2 General observations 7.3 Current decision-making structure 7.4 Flawed policy assessment process • Case Study 1 - Rail versus Road Financing • Case Study 2 - Route 7 and Route 10 • Case Study 3 - Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) • Case Study 4 - Trams and Electric Trolley Buses 8. SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT FOR HONG KONG 90 8.1 Need for better transport planning 8.2 A vision for more sustainable transport for Hong Kong APPENDICES 94 AUTHORS 96 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 97 REFERENCES 98
INTRODUCTION & SUMMARY The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) has arguably been a "world city" 1 ("Asia's World City") for at least the past several decades. Yet, as with any economy heavily dependent on trade, changing fortunes in an evolving world economy make the future status of the HKSAR far from assured. A further, and more specific issue is that Hong Kong, unlike other urban centers often cited as "world cities," 2 faces a continuing and rapid expansion of its population. Historically, the rate of increase has been about one million persons per decade and a similar or only moderately slower pace is expected for the next decade and a half. 3 As the HKSAR grows from a city of about 7 million in 2002 to a city of about 9 million in 2020, it must cope with the need to increase the supply of housing, transport, and other infrastructure-intensive services by nearly 30%. The expansion of transport services in an already densely populated and highly developed landscape threatens to seriously undermine the quality of life in the HKSAR, even if the economy remains strong and personal freedoms remain sufficiently secure. Hence, the need to make Hong Kong's transport system more sustainable is vital for the entire community and not merely for planners and environmentalists. It would be detrimental to the quality of life of Hong Kong people, as well as for the HKSAR's aspirations to remain a "World City" if current Transport Bureau and Transport Department policy were to be the sole basis of dialogue on this issue. To promote a more vigorous community dialogue, <strong>Civic</strong> <strong>Exchange</strong>, with a grant from the Asia Foundation, has developed a set of three alternative visions for a more sustainable transport system for the HKSAR. This report outlines one vision, which consists of an integrated set of planning- and technology-based strategies. 4 An alternative vision for Hong Kong's transport system A transport system should be considered sustainable only if it meets two basic conditions. First, it must meet current needs for mobility without imposing unacceptable costs, including external costs, on those who use it and are affected by it. Second, it must be able to meet projected future needs for mobility at acceptable costs. Does Hong Kong's current transport system meet these criteria In some respects, Hong Kong's transport system is among the best in the world. Almost everyone can rely on convenient, comfortable, and affordably priced public transport. Good transport is also central to Hong Kong's status as an international business center and logistics hub. The internal costs of transport for passengers, including transport fares, time spent waiting for transport service, and the quality of the journey, are low. In terms of internal costs, Hong Kong clearly does very well. However, the external costs of Hong Kong's transport system - the costs experienced by the community as a whole - are much higher. Pollutant emissions from Hong Kong's road transport increase air pollution levels. Road traffic also exposes at least one million people to excessive traffic noise. 1 HKSAR Government (1999), "Bringing the Vision to Life - Hong Kong's Long Term Development Needs and Goals," in Quality People, Quality Home: Positioning Hong Kong for the 21st Century, Hong Kong. 2 While the cities on this list vary, cities like London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo are typically included. 3 Transport Department (1999), Third Comprehensive Transport Study, Hong Kong: HKSAR Government. 4 The two other reports, published in February 2002, are Sustainable Transport in Hong Kong, by Dick Rooks and Derckjan Smaling, and Electrifying Hong Kong: Making Transport Sustainable, by Richard Gilbert, both available at http://www.civic-exchange.org. 1
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THE DYNAMICS OF DECISION-MAKING IN
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SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT FOR HONG KONG
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APPENDICES Appendix 1 The Environme
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AUTHORS Bill Barron (wbarron@hkucc.
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REFERENCES Airport Authority Hong K
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Civic Exchange Room 601, Hoseinee H
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