Questions about Junction Blacksite List
Simon Wang made this Access to Information request to Transport Department
Dear Transport Department,
Q1 — Origin and policy intention of the Junction Blacksite list
Background: The Transport Department publishes quarterly Junction Blacksite lists. The definition (Category A: ≥6 pedestrian-injury or ≥9 injury accidents in 12 months) appears in the header of each quarterly file. However, the original policy rationale for establishing this classification system has never been publicly documented. In LegCo LCQ14 (2 July 2008), the then-Secretary stated that TD “made reference to overseas practice” and noted “there are no common criteria or international standards” — suggesting it was an operational decision without a founding policy paper. [Source: https://www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/legislative/t...
Request: Please provide any internal circular, working paper, or memo (redacted as needed) that records the original policy intention for establishing the Junction Blacksite list. If no such document exists, please confirm in writing that the criteria were set as an operational decision without a founding policy paper.
Why this matters: Understanding the policy basis for the blacksite system is essential for evaluating whether the current approach serves road safety effectively. Without knowing the original intention, citizens cannot assess whether the system is achieving its purpose.
Q2 — Addition of Category C
Background: The quarterly blacksite lists from Q4-2018 include only Categories A and B. By Q3-2023, a new Category C appears: “≥8 accidents involving pedestrian injuries in the past 3 years.” We have reviewed LegCo records, press releases, and TD publications and can find no public announcement or legislative discussion of this addition. [Source: Q4-2018 list: https://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/tc/con... ; Q3-2023 list: https://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/tc/con...
Request: Please provide: (a) the exact quarter in which Category C took effect, (b) the decision document or internal minute authorising its addition, and (c) any public announcement issued at the time. If no documentation exists, please confirm when and how this change was authorised.
Why this matters: Changes to public safety classification criteria affect which junctions receive remedial attention. Citizens have a right to know when and why such changes were made.
Q3 — Standard remediation workflow
Background: In LCQ13 (30 July 2025), TD reported that “between 2020 and 2024, improvement works have been carried out at approximately 70 traffic accident black spots” with approximately 24% reduction in accidents and 30% reduction in casualties at 30 locations. These are aggregate figures. The standard process by which a newly classified blackspot junction moves from identification to completed remediation has not been published. [Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/2025...
Request: Please describe the standard workflow (steps, responsible units, and target timelines) for a junction newly classified under Category A, from initial classification through to completion of improvement works. We are asking about the PROCESS, not the aggregate outcomes.
Why this matters: Without transparency on the remediation workflow, citizens cannot assess whether the ~24% accident reduction represents an efficient use of resources or whether junctions sit on the list for years before receiving attention.
Yours faithfully,
Simon Wang
03/08/2026
Dear Simon,
Subject: Access to Information request - Questions about Junction Blacksite List (Case Ref: 3-9626688414)
Thank you for your email dated 02/08/2026 to the Transport Department, which has been received by 1823 on behalf of the department.
For the issue(s) related to questions about junction blacksite list, we have passed your correspondence to the relevant unit of the Transport Department for follow-up. You will be informed of the result once it is available.
If you have any questions about this reply, please contact us.
Best regards,
Hugo Ching
Customer Service Officer
1823
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07/08/2026
Dear Simon,
Subject: Access to Information request - Questions about Junction Blacksite List (Case Ref: 3-9626688414)
Regarding your above case, the interim reply of the Transport Department is as follows –
"Dear Mr WANG,
Our department received your request for access to information on 2 August 2026. Your application is now under processing. According to paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, our department will inform you of the latest progress of the case separately on or before 22 August 2026. You may note that case no. 286/26 is assigned to your request.
In the meantime, if you have any enquiry, please contact me at 3842 5574.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Natalie FUNG
for Commissioner for Transport"
If you have any questions about this reply, please contact us.
Best regards,
Candy Tse
Customer Service Officer
1823
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20/08/2026
Dear Simon,
Subject: Access to Information request - Questions about Junction Blacksite List (Case Ref: 3-9626688414)
Regarding your above case, the substantive reply of the Transport Department is as follows –
"Dear Mr WANG,
I refer to your request to information no. 286/26. Further to our interim reply, our substantive reply is as below:
The Government has been enhancing road safety through a multi-pronged approach and is committed to reducing traffic accidents at the source. Improving to road design and traffic management is one of the key initiatives.
Intention of Junction Blacksite
Purpose of designating junction blacksite lists is to identity locations where accidents have occurred, and ranked the locations by frequency of accidents, so that resources can be effectively deployed for accident prone site. A similar approach is being adopted in different jurisdictions, though the selection criterion may be different to suit local conditions.
Addition of Category C
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable group among various road users. To further reinforce road safety measures against pedestrian injury accident, the Transport Department (TD) introduced the junction blacksite criterion ‘eight or more pedestrian injury accidents in three years’ in Q3 2023, in order to identify clusters of less trivial accidents spanning several years.
While no specific public announcement was made for introducing the aforesaid new blacksite criterion, the junction blacksite list since Q4 2022, which was published in Q3 2023 after consolidating and verifying the accident data, has been published quarterly in the public domain (at https://www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/roa...), reflecting the outcome of the new blacksite criterion.
The new blacksite selection criteria was eventually included in the Transport Planning and Design Manual, which is primarily a working document for TD staff, in Dec 2024.
Workflow
In gist, a typical workflow for an accident blacksite improvement proposal comprises –
(1) Identify blacksites by analyzing the accident database with information collected by Hong Kong Police Force;
(2) Identify any distinct patterns or common contributory factors;
(3) Formulate corresponding improvement measures where appropriate, with comments from relevant departments and stakeholders incorporated;
(4) Request works agent to carry out the improvement works;
(5) Completion and acceptance of the improvement works.
Steps (1) to (4) are carried out by Road Safety and Standards Division of TD. The works request, if required, is usually issued within 6 months after identifying the blacksite location.
Highways Department is normally the works agent for improvement works. If electrical and mechanical works are involved, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department will also serve as the works agent. Works programmes depends on very much the complexity of the works, as well as resources and prioritization of the works agents.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Natalie FUNG
for Commissioner for Transport"
If you have any questions about this reply, please contact us.
Best regards,
Alan Ng
Customer Service Officer
1823
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