Congestion charges for Hong Kong motorists only way to solve Central gridlock and make area more welcoming for pedestrians, concern group says
- Markus Shaw of Walk DVRC says car owners should not use area’s streets for free, making them intolerable for those on foot
- Government yet to announce when road-pricing scheme will be implemented for Central and faces opposition from local council
Charging car owners to enter Hong Kong’s crowded Central district is the key to ending serious congestion and making the bustling area more pedestrian-friendly, a walkability group has said.
“If they have to pay more, let them pay more,” Shaw said in an interview with the Post. “Why do they have the privilege of driving in with their chauffeurs and not paying, given they cause so much more congestion for ordinary people?” he said, suggesting that those who do not want to pay more could choose alternative routes outside the charging zone.
The government has proposed the “user-pays” scheme for charging motorists driving into the heart of Central, covering 14 streets, as it aims to reduce traffic in the area by 15 per cent. The proposed roads include Queen’s Road Central, Des Voeux Road Central and Connaught Road Central.
But the government did not say when the scheme would begin, how long it would last or how much motorists would be charged, only pointing out that fees would vary according to the time of day.