LCQ6: Management and maintenance of footbridges for public use within private developments

Following is a question by the Hon Tam Yiu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (April 14):

Question:

Recently, some residents of various private housing estates have relayed to me that they are concerned that they are required to take on the responsibilities to manage and maintain the footbridges which were built for public use within the areas of their housing estates.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the current total number of footbridges in Hong Kong which were built, for public use under the requirements of the land lease, within the areas of private developments, and among them, a list of those the management and maintenance responsibilities for which are to be borne by the developers or property owners of the developments concerned, according to the land lease or deed of dedication; and

(b) whether the authorities have, since 1980, granted waivers to developers or property owners in respect of their responsibilities to manage and maintain the aforesaid types of footbridges, and re-assigned the responsibilities to the government departments concerned; if they have, of a list of such footbridges, the year in which and the reasons why such waivers were granted, as well as the factors considered by the government departments concerned?

Reply:

President,

Based on the information provided by the Lands Department, the Highways Department and the Transport Department, my reply to the two parts of the question is as follows -

(a) Since 1980, a total of 238 footbridges have been built by developers for public use as required under the land leases of the private developments.  Of these, 27 have been taken over by Government departments in accordance with the relevant clauses in the land leases upon completion.  The Government has also invoked the relevant clause in the lease to take over one footbridge located on Government land for management and maintenance by the departments concerned.  The remaining 210 footbridges are now managed and maintained by the owners concerned, and a list of the 124 private developments involved is at Annex.

(b) From 1980 till now, only on one occasion has the Government invoked the relevant clause in the lease of the above-mentioned case in 2005 to take over the concerned footbridge and the management and maintenance responsibilities from the owners to the departments concerned.  In making this very exceptional decision, the Government has taken into account the owners' requests, location of the footbridge, other practical considerations and the consolidated views of the departments concerned.

Ends/Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01

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