Member William Au Wing Kwong and Project Officer Wilson Lau Kwok Lam, along with representatives from other organisations for individuals with disabilities, conducted a field inspection with the Transport Department on September 9, 2022, to examine the guided paths on Berwick Street, Nam Cheong Street, and Pei Ho Street. Representatives from organisations for individuals with disabilities highlighted various issues with the guided paths on these three streets to representatives from the Transport Department and Highways Department, such as worn tactile paving, insufficient anti-slip measures, loose guided bricks, incorrect installations, and inadequate colour contrast.

Project Officer Wilson Lau Kwok Lam pointed out that the wear and tear on the guided paths not only affect the tactile feedback for visually impaired individuals but also reduce the colour contrast. Regarding insufficient anti-slip measures, Member William Au Wing Kwong suggested referencing the metal guided bricks in Guangzhou, where the anti-slip texture and bricks are integrated. This is different from the current metal guided bricks on the market, where the anti-slip texture and bricks are separate, leading to a risk of the anti-slip texture detaching and resulting in inadequate anti-slip measures.

A representative from the Highways Department responded that they are only responsible for maintenance, and material selection falls under the Research and Development Division’s purview. The representatives requested a discussion with the Research and Development Division of the Highways Department to address the issues with the guided bricks and hoped that the Transport Department would invite the Research and Development Division to future working group meetings on public transportation for individuals with disabilities.