Police took needless risk with roadblock

On Monday, April 23, I was astonished to see on my way to the airport that the police had set up a roadblock to stop speeding drivers just outside the Tsing Ma Tunnel on the Kowloon-bound side.

There were a number of police motorbikes parked at the start of the coned-off area, and several officers were issuing tickets to motorists who had been stopped there after being 'clocked' speeding in the tunnel.

After the tragic death of a young officer at just such a roadblock, I would have thought the powers-that-be would have learned a lesson.

To set up a stopping point for offenders in what is essentially the fast lane of an expressway is surely the height of foolishness, which recklessly endangers the lives of the officers manning it.

I have no doubt that the excuse will be made that there were radio announcements to the effect that there was a blockage at that exit of the tunnel. I heard these because I had the radio on, but not everyone would have and this is a poor excuse at best. The speed cameras would seem to be a permanent feature in this tunnel and are a danger, as many motorists slow to below the legal limit as they approach the cameras. This could well cause an accident on its own.

I will be most interested to read the traffic division's response.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED