LEGISLATORS sent a strong message to the Government that they would not support increases in taxes and tunnel tolls to combat traffic congestion. They blamed the Government for the gridlock, saying it was a result of poor urban planning, incessant roadworks and failure to provide sufficient and good public transport. They proposed a range of solutions, including special licences for weekend driving, promoting park and ride schemes, more extensive use of water transport and financial incentives for companies using staggered working hours. After a two-hour debate, lawmakers endorsed the motion moved by Liberal Party member Miriam Lau Kin-yee urging the administration to fully consider public views and adopt fair and effective measures. Last November, Secretary for Transport Haider Barma unveiled a mix of fiscal and administrative measures to reduce traffic jams such as doubling the tunnel toll, raising first registration tax and annual licence fees, using a quota system to limit car sales and restricting tunnel usage according to licence plate numbers. Mrs Lau said it was unfair to target cars as cargo trucks were heavier users of roads. The fiscal measures would make cars more expensive and something only for the rich. Democratic Party member Zachary Wong Wai-yin said cars were a necessity for many people living in new towns. Jimmy McGregor said the Government had done a wonderful job in traffic management. The problem it faced was inevitable. Rounding up the debate, Mr Barma described the car quota proposal - which had been fiercely criticised - as being 'on the backburner'. He said the Government did not aim to force cars off the roads but to contain their growth. Mr Barma urged members to face the fact that if nothing was done to curb the growth of vehicles, traffic conditions would deteriorate.
