The Town Planning Board will decide in a meeting on Friday whether or not to reject a retired government town planner’s application to make a section of the city’s Central district tram-free, taking into account a government department’s stated opposition to his proposal.

The Planning Department submitted a statement to the board in which it clearly outlined it did not support the application of Sit Kwok-keung, a former government town planner.

In the paper, transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said trams performed a complementary role in the city as they provided frequent and affordable services without roadside emissions on the north side of Hong Kong Island for around 180,000 passengers daily.

READ MORE: You must be off your trolley: Proposal to derail Hong Kong’s iconic trams to ease traffic in Central meets online opposition

Cheung said the government had no plans to change its existing policy on trams, also known as ‘ding dings’ for the sound of their bells.

The department said the applicant did not submit a development proposal or impact assessment to substantiate his proposal. It added that, in the absence of supporting information, it was impossible to ascertain the applicant’s claims that the proposed rezoning could bring more efficient use of Des Voeux Road Central and Queensway.