SCS visits Transport Department (with photos)

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Patrick Nip, visited the Transport Department (TD) today (December 22) and met with the Commissioner for Transport, Miss Rosanna Law, and staff of various grades to get an update on the department's work and learn more about the concerns of colleagues.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, Mr Nip first visited the Hong Kong Licensing Office in Admiralty to learn more about the work of the department's frontline colleagues in the provision of services relating to driving licences and vehicle licences, and the provision of services during the epidemic in the past two years.

     Among the four licensing offices of the TD, the Hong Kong Licensing Office is the largest one which provides all the licensing services of the department relating to vehicle and driving licences. Mr Nip was briefed about the department's electronic initiatives, including the online licensing application services and the development of an electronic driving licence to be displayed in a mobile app, with a view to providing more convenience for driving licence holders.

     Mr Nip then proceeded to the TD's Headquarters at West Kowloon Government Offices where he received a briefing on the department's latest initiatives including the free-flow tolling service, the new parking meters and the automated parking system which was launched last month. He was also briefed on how colleagues effectively made use of technology to manage transport facilities that not only offers the public greater convenience, but also enhances the service quality and work efficiency.

     He also visited the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre to gain a greater understanding of how colleagues monitor public transport services and traffic conditions with technology, as well as co-ordinating and responding to emergencies in a timely manner when incidents happen.

     "The TD provides frontline services to the public every day. As Hong Kong is a densely populated city with many people and vehicles, members of the public rely heavily on convenient transportation networks and the public transport system. In the face of rapid development, I hope that our colleagues will have an innovative mind and make use of technology to drive innovative services so as to tackle issues related to people's daily lives, promote smart mobility, improve road safety and enhance transport efficiency," Mr Nip said.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Nip met with staff representatives of various grades of the department to know more about matters that concern them. He also met with colleagues who have participated in the 2021 Legislative Council General Election and anti-epidemic work to listen to their experiences and views about their work, and thanked them for their efforts and contributions.