Failures too few to mention for departing transport boss

Having faced controversy over a major Kowloon traffic jam last month, outgoing Commissioner for Transport Robert Footman tried to cast his six-year tenure in a brighter light yesterday by going over his accomplishments.

Meeting reporters as the head of the Transport Department for the last time, he issued a list of 'facts and figures' detailing his work in turning several streets into pedestrian-only roads, cutting out about 500 franchised buses and introducing road safety measures following the 2003 Tuen Mun bus accident that killed 21 people.

Mr Footman said his biggest accomplishment was improving the environment by adding more pedestrian-only streets and hence reducing vehicle fumes. But he stopped short of saying where he had failed, saying only that the department could improve on handling special incidents.

One of the major challenges he faced was the May 9 storm that knocked over several trees and scaffolding, bringing Kowloon traffic to a standstill. A taskforce is still investigating the government's response.

'For that particular incident, whatever we did, there was going to be serious congestion because there was no alternative,' Mr Footman said. 'There was no railway in the area. This incident took place during the day. We couldn't warn people when they were at home. It's harder to get people when they're at work.'

Mr Footman, 52, will end his tenure as one of the longest-serving transport commissioners on Saturday. He will take a three-month holiday, part of which he will spend with his family in his native Britain and his summer residence in Ireland.