Hong Kong lawmakers slam anti-congestion plan

Lawmakers piled on criticism against the government’s traffic congestion-busting plan at a Legislative Council hearing this morning.

The transport panel mobilised to call for exceptions to increased motoring fines and a congestion charge for professional drivers and businesses.

The government last week launched a three-month consultation on the implementation of a vehicle congestion charge and an increase in motoring fines in a bid to reverse the trend of traffic coming to a standstill in Central district and the surrounding areas.

READ MORE: Hong Kong transport panel backs road congestion fee as ‘effective’ way to ease traffic in Central

At the hearing, lawmakers lined up to criticise the police for lack of enforcement and for not stepping up patrols in the affected areas.

Lawmakers berated Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung over the lack of provisions and resources to increase the number of parking spaces, which often led to illegal parking and road blockages.

The transport panel later passed a motion against an increase in fines unless the misallocation of parking spaces was resolved.

A number of lawmakers, who have been in contact with motoring groups, professional drivers and business groups following the start of the consultation, said they opposed the scheme. The government was urged to exempt professional drivers from fines.