| Author: | Lam, Kwok-ying Tina |
| Title: | A feasibility study on the privatization of on-street parking enforcement and control |
| Degree: | M.B.A. |
| Year: | 1994 |
| Subject: | Automobile parking -- China -- Hong Kong Privatization -- China -- Hong Kong Law enforcement -- China -- Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Management |
| Pages: | 1 v. (various pagings) ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Illegal parking is a pattern of behaviour which is common to all metropolitan cities, and Hong Kong is no exception. Although shortage of parking spaces have frequently been cited as the reason for illegal parking, it is perhaps more accurate to say that the underlying reason is the shortage of 'cheap' and easily assessable spaces, near to the final destinations. No statistics are available in Hong Kong on how much illegal parking escapes penalty, however, studies conducted by the London Metropolitan police revealed that as few as 1 in 150 acts of illegal parking in London were being penalized. Parking contraventions are no longer criminal offences in Hong Kong, having been decriminalized in 1971. They are now classified under law as civil liabilities to the government. The enforcement and control of parking legislation is the responsibility of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, assisted by a small number of traffic wardens. Operationally, the Force affords parking enforcement a low priority and is reluctant to divert police officers from their primary role of combating crime. From a financial aspect, use of police officers to enforce parking regulations is not regarded as cost effective, when it has been seen that traffic wardens with a minimum of training and experience, on a lesser salary, can do the job as well, if not better. As any member of the travelling public in Hong Kong will have at sometime witnessed, illegal parking and obstruction can cause such serious congestion and accidents as to bring the Territory to a virtual standstill. Parking regulations and their enforcement are therefore of considerable importance to the well-being of individuals and the economy generally. Illegal on-street parking is becoming an increasingly bigger problem as the number of vehicles on the road continues to rise while the supply of new parking spaces fails to keep up. This all comes at a time when the Force is struggling to meet increasing commitments brought on by rising crime, as well as its newly assumed responsibility for border security. At the same time, Hong Kong's political development has made the public more aware of its' rights, and government's accountability. It will no longer accept or tolerate the excuse that the problem cannot be satisfactorily dealt with because of insufficient manpower. The study looks at privatization as an effective and cost efficient alternative to the government's provision of services, and in so doing it examines the feasibility of applying the concept with regard to the enforcement and control of on-street parking, thereby releasing police officers for more important duties. In studying the subject it is apparent that drivers' parking habits and behaviour play a major part in assessing why drivers opt to park illegally and what can be done to prevent it. A survey was conducted with a view to achieving an understanding of the mental processes and attitudes of local drivers towards parking. The survey also sought to assess public opinion from both drivers and non-drivers on illegal parking, government's efforts to curb the problem, and response to the proposition of privatising the parking enforcement and control. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b11525654.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.71 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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