HOLLOWAY LANE AND ROCHORE ROAD (Offences for obstruction by loading and unloading of goods)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Home Affairs why the parking of vehicles for the loading and unloading of goods in Holloway Lane and Rochore Road is not allowed and drivers who so park their vehicles are served with notices of offence for obstruction, when there has been no promulgation of such prohibition.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr L. P. Rodrigo) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, parking at any time along the first approximately 30 metres of Holloway Lane from its junction with Victoria Street is prohibited by a single white line. One side of the rest of the lane is for paid parking and the other side is prohibited to parking at any time by traffic signs. These restrictions have been imposed because Holloway Lane is only 20 feet wide and carries continuous traffic. There are, however, no restrictions to the parking of vehicles for loading and unloading of goods in Rochore Road. The prohibition to parking in Holloway Lane is stipulated by a white line and traffic signs which are promulgated in Rule 43 of the Road Traffic Rules, 1950, and the Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Rules, 1970, respectively.

Vehicles may still park in the "No Parking" area for the purpose of loading and unloading of goods provided no obstruction is caused to traffic flow. Drivers must, therefore, ascertain that they are not causing any obstruction to traffic flow before stopping their vehicles for loading and unloading purposes. The problem is that some lorries park side by side for loading or unloading, whilst others are parked in "No Parking" areas for purposes other than the loading or unloading of goods.