Cil from the very outset.
Kleinwort, Benson (Hongkong) Ltd, part of the Hongkong consortium commissioned to raise money for the Hongkong Government to finance the tube, refused to comment on the matter.
But TARGET is led to believe that the giant financial institution would not have much of a chance on the Eurodollar market if the facts of the matter were known.
The
ommission of certain routes, particularly the West Kowloon Line, originally part of the Japanese consortium's proposals, has made a vast difference to the potential passenger traffic something the Government's wiz-kids appear to have forgotten.
The new system now has to rely on the ability of existing and possibly new transportation facilities to 'feed' the tube's entrances - making the whole scheme almost senseless since it will not elliminate or alleviate, but rather add to the Hongkong surface road congestion because it will mean additional feeder services to carry passengers to the tube.
The commissioning of the latest passenger usage analysis for the tube came about following Wilbur Smith's finalisation of the Long-Term Road Study and the Comprehensive Transport Study using updated versions of the original computations.
Wilbur Smith was using the latest population census figures taken a couple of years ago to ascertain the latest known population concentrations in the vital areas affecting the tube's viability.
Mr Haddon-Cave is about to have to eat previous statements that the Hongkong Government will not spend a penny more than $5,000 million because the latest figures indicate that the cost has already risen over the $6,000 million level.
Only 2 Hongkong contractors are now thought to be really interested in the underground railway since only 2 Hongkong companies could even consider getting the necessary finances for the job.
The 2 companies are Gammon and Paul Y, both of whom have told the Government that they would like to have a slice of the action.
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