Son forced to negotiate for 45 minutes while his sick father sat in vehicle
Hong Kong Resort, owner and manager of the Discovery Bay development, has been branded heartless after an elderly hospital patient was told he could not return home through the Discovery Bay tunnel because he was travelling in a private car.
As Discovery Bay is car-free, private vehicles are discouraged from entering and private cars or delivery vans can only enter with permits issued in advance
Atma Gidwani, 82, was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital last month after breaking his ankle in a fall in his home. His doctor granted him two days' home leave on June 24 and 25 and it was left to his son, Baljit, to arrange transport. Baljit says he was given permission to drive through the tunnel but was then denied entry. The company has blamed the incident on a misunderstanding.
'I tried to arrange for non-emergency transport through the hospital and the Hong Kong Society for the Handicapped, but none was available,' said Baljit. 'I only managed to find a private vehicle operator whose van had a hydraulic wheelchair lift.
'I called the Discovery Bay control centre on Friday and explained my situation and my father's very delicate condition. I asked if this vehicle would be allowed through the tunnel and they told me it would be fine so long as it was a van and I paid the tunnel fee.'
However, when they arrived at the toll booth at 1.30pm they were refused entry because they were travelling in a private car.