Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ18: Toilet facilities at Tai Lam Tunnel bus-bus interchange

Following is a question by the Hon. Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, in the Legislative Council meeting today (January 23):

Question

The bus-bus interchange next to the tolling plaza of Tai Lam Tunnel is not provided with a toilet, thus causing inconvenience to the large number of passengers waiting there. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it had reserved space for a toilet when it designed the interchange; if it had, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(b) of the specific measures and time to address the problem of the lack of toilets at the interchange; and

Answer

(a) When the Government designed the Tai Lam Tunnel bus-bus interchange (BBI), the principal objective was to meet passengers' transport needs so as to enable them to interchange with other bus routes quickly to reach their destinations. Due to topographical constraints, the space available for constructing the BBI was very limited. Besides, taking into account the design and operational experience of other schemes of transport interchanges, the Transport Department (TD) expected that passengers would not have to stay at the interchange location for a long time. Having regard to the above considerations, the Government did not reserve any space for toilet facilities when designing the BBI.

(b) The BBI is situated in the Tai Lam Tunnel area managed by the Route 3 (Country Park Section) Company Limited. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and TD will discuss with the Company to consider the need for and explore the feasibility of providing toilet facilities at the BBI or in its vicinity. In examining the matter, the departments concerned will take into account the main function and the future development of the BBI, as well as the availability of suitable alternative sites for the provision of toilet facilities.

Wednesday, January 23, 2002