News
Expert Panel Forum to discuss sustainable transport planning and Central-Wan Chai Bypass
The Sub-committee on Wan Chai Development Phase II Review (Sub-committee) of the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee (HEC) has arranged to hold an "Expert Panel Forum on Sustainable Transport Planning and Central-Wan Chai Bypass" on Saturday, September 3 at the SME Training Centre 3, Expo Galleria, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In view of the keen interest in transport issues and especially in the question of the need for building the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) to resolve traffic congestion along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, as reflected in the public engagement activities of the Envisioning Stage of the "Harbour-front Enhancement Review - Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Adjoining Areas" (HER), the sub-committee considers that an in-depth discussion on the issue, involving experts in the relevant field, is necessary before embarking on the next stage of HER, i.e. the Realisation Stage.
"We need to come to a broad consensus on transport matters, including the question of the need for the CWB and its connections with local roads, before we proceed further with HER. We hope that the experts can assist us in this respect," sub-committee chairman Mr Leung Kong-yui said.
"A holistic approach will be adopted to ensure a sustainable solution which is in line with the harbour planning principles prepared by HEC. I trust that the experts will take into account all relevant key considerations, such as demand growth, traffic management measures that can be implemented and rail links being planned," he said.
The expert panel will be chaired by Professor William Lam, the Chair Professor in Civil and Transportation Engineering of the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with eight members nominated by the sub-committee's Task Force on HER, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Hong Kong Institute of Planners, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Civil Engineering of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Department of Civil Engineering of University of Hong Kong.
To facilitate a thorough discussion at the Expert Panel Forum, people are welcome to submit to the sub-committee on or before August 26, 2005 (Friday) any views, opinions or data they consider that the Expert Panel Forum should take into account. The panel and/or sub-committee has full discretion to publish, including uploading onto an appropriate website, the whole or part of such submissions.
The address of the sub-committee is : HEC Sub-committee on Wan Chai Development Phase II Review, c/o Civil Engineering and Development Department, 13/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or e-mail : bpchan@cedd.gov.hk. The fax number is 2576 9792. Enquiries can be made at 2231 4408.
Ends/Friday, August 12, 2005
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