LCQ13: Taking forward automated parking systems

Following is a question by the Hon Starry Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (November 9):

Question:

The Government commissioned in early 2018 a consultancy study to take forward pilot projects of automated parking systems (APSs) and subsequently identified a number of short-term tenancy (STT) car parks and public works projects (PWPs) for taking forward APS projects (selected projects), and it expected that such projects could be completed by 2026 at the latest. The Government has indicated that it will examine the feasibility of adopting APSs when inviting tenders for new STT car parks and conducting re-tendering exercises for existing STT car parks, and will consider adopting APSs in more PWPs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number and charges (if applicable) of conventional parking spaces at the sites of the aforesaid selected projects before the introduction of APSs, as well as the respective numbers and charges of conventional and automated parking spaces after the introduction of APSs;

(2) whether it will draw reference from the experience of other places to optimise the current APSs (including increasing the number of layers of car stackers), so as to increase the capacity of the parking systems; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it will study different methods (such as streamlining the process for taking forward the selected projects) so as to take forward APSs at more locations as early as possible; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) apart from the aforesaid selected projects, how many STT car parks and PWPs are identified by the authorities so far as suitable for the introduction of APSs, and of the relevant details?

Reply:

President,

The Government has been pursuing a host of short-term and medium- to long-term measures to increase parking spaces, including providing public parking spaces in suitable "Government, Institution or Community" facilities and public open space projects following the principle of "single site, multiple uses", and taking forward automated parking system (APS) projects, etc.

My reply to the question raised by the Hon Lee is as follows:

(1) and (4) Compared with conventional car parks, if the site is suitable, installation of APS can increase the number of parking spaces by up to 100 per cent within the same amount of space. The Transport Department (TD) is taking forward a number of APS projects in short-term tenancy (STT) car parks and public works projects to achieve a more efficient use of space in order to meet the demand for parking spaces. As for the mode of operation, both STT car parks and public car parks under public works projects are commercially run by operators engaged by the Government through tender. The operators are responsible for the routine management and operation of the car parks. Operators of STT car parks with APS are also required to build and install the systems. In general, the operators will determine the level of fees according to market mechanism. This is in line with the Government's current practice of engaging operators to run the conventional STT and public car parks.

The TD has been seeking to implement APS at various suitable locations. At present, APS is being taken forward at the following STT car parks and public works projects, as set out below:

STT car parks
Location Number of parking spaces before introducing APS (Note 1) Total number of parking spaces after introducing APS
(No. of APS parking spaces)
Other details
Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan 200 245
(78)
  • Adopt puzzle stacking system (puzzle type APS)
  • Commissioned in November 2021
Fo Shing Road, Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po* 178 240
(50)
  • Adopt puzzle type APS
  • APS scheduled for commissioning in end-2022
Junction of Yen Chow Street and Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po* 126 About 210
(about 50)
  • Adopt puzzle type APS
  • Scheduled for tendering within 2022
Hoi Wang Road, Yau Ma Tei* 160 About 200
(about 90)
  • Adopt puzzle type APS
  • Scheduled for tendering in 2023

Public works projects
Location Total number of parking spaces (Note 2)
(No. of APS parking spaces)
Other details
Joint-user Government Office Building in
Area 67, Tseung Kwan O*
About 300
(to be confirmed)
  • Adopt puzzle type APS
  • Construction works have commenced for completion in 2025
District Open Space, Sports Centre cum Public Vehicle Park at Sze Mei Street, San Po Kong* About 300
(to be confirmed)
  • Adopt vertical lifting and horizontal sliding system
  • Construction works have commenced for completion in 2026
Open Space with Public Vehicle Park at Yen Chow Street West, Sham Shui Po About 200
(about 170)
  • Adopt circular shaft lifting system
  • Scheduled for funding application to the Legislative Council in 2023 and for completion in 2026
Joint-user Complex at the junction of Shing Tai Road and Sheung Mau Street, Chai Wan About 200
(to be confirmed)
  • Adopt tower lifting system
  • Under planning by the TD
Hoi Ting Road Joint-user Complex, Yau Ma Tei* About 120 to 180
(to be confirmed)
  • Under planning by the TD
* Denotes new APS projects proposed by the Government following the completion of the 2018 consultancy study

Note 1: The increase in the number of parking provision brought by APS is subject to actual circumstances, such as the configuration of the car park site and the presence of underground facilities and utilities. In addition, the site area of the above-mentioned STT car parks in Tai Po and Sham Shui Po has increased compared to the previous ones.

Note 2: As the Government has studied the number of parking spaces with the adoption of APS to be provided by the proposed car park starting from the planning stage, there is not a number of conventional parking spaces before introducing APS.

(2) Apart from making reference to the experience of various other places in the use of APS, the TD also takes into account the characteristics and constraints of different sites when considering the suitable APS (in respect of type and number of stacks) that meet the needs. By way of example, for the STT car parks at Hoi Shing Road in Tsuen Wan and Pak Shek Kok in Tai Po, each set of the puzzle type APS is three storeys high with five parking spaces on the top level, and four on each of the middle and bottom levels, providing 13 parking spaces in total. For the STT car park at the junction of Yen Chow Street and Tung Chau Street in Sham Shui Po, owing to the limited space available, a four-storey puzzle type APS, which occupies a relatively smaller footprint, will be adopted, providing four parking spaces on the top level and three on each of the remaining levels.

(3) In the past few years, the TD has been taking forward APS in various locations and gained experiences in building, operating and managing different types of APS as well as the associated financial arrangements, which facilitates the continuous efforts in taking forward such projects. For instance, the TD and other departments concerned (e.g. the Lands Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Fire Services Department, etc) have compiled and updated respective practice notes, specifying clearer and more systematic procedures and requirements for taking forward APS. The Government will also continue to encourage the trade to implement different types of APS in Hong Kong to gain more relevant experiences and understanding of the applicability and limitations of various types of APS. These continuous efforts are conducive to a wider and more efficient application of APS in Hong Kong by the Government and the trade in the future.

Looking ahead, when inviting tenders for new STT car parks and carrying out re-tendering for the existing STT car parks, the Government will examine the feasibility of adopting APS. The TD will consider the feasibility of introducing APS to different STT car parks, such as financial viability, obstruction by underground utilities, and whether the site will be taken back shortly for long-term development. The Transport and Logistics Bureau/TD will explore the use of APS as far as possible in their public car park projects, taking into account the project characteristics, design requirements, site constraints and cost-effectiveness, etc. For other future public works projects with public car parks, we will request the responsible departments to consider the feasibility of using APS at the planning stage.

Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Issued at HKT 14:50