IMPOSING extra charges on motorists is not regarded as an effective way to ease traffic congestion, a survey revealed yesterday.
The poll, commissioned by the South China Morning Post, suggested that motorists and non-motorists did not think sharp increases in car licence fees and first registration tax was the way to resolve congestion on Hong Kong roads.
More than 80 per cent of motorists interviewed did not think fiscal measures would work. The figure for non-motorists was 70 per cent.
Only 16 per cent of motorists and 28 per cent of non-motorists thought the measures would help alleviate the problem.
The Government had unveiled earlier this month a comprehensive package to curb the growth of traffic on the roads, which included the increase of first registration tax for private cars from 40 per cent to 70 per cent and annual licence fees by more than 40 per cent.
Through these measures, the Government seeks to limit the growth of private cars to two per cent per year.
