C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL # 2
XCC(77)54
(b)
(c)
39
of 80
Copy No Page 5 of 18
exclusive busways (i. e. roads devoted entirely to buses) could provide only non-stop services and could not meet localised requirements in the highly developed sections of this corridor (e.g. North West Kowloon and Tsuen Wan);
bus only lanes in this corridor would restrict other road users, who have no adequate alternative route. In any case, they would be of little use because they would not provide additional kerbside space for buses to stop, pick up and put down passengers.
Summary of the MTRC's Proposals
15
In addition to the general transport arguments supporting the construction of extensions to the MIS, the Corporation believes that a decision now to proceed with an extension would be timely for the following reasons:
(a)
(b)
(c)
from a financial point of view, the bigger the system the more viable it will become (a point made in memorandum XCC(72)27);
there is a favourable economic climate in Hong Kong, an apparent availability of more funds and an oppor- tunity to use contractor and Corporation resources already being employed on the construction of the MIS;
an extension would enable an early return to be obtained from the extra investment of about $400 million which was made in the MIS to enable it to be extended without disruption to the MIS services.
16
The Corporation considers that, of the 53-kilometer full system, the first extension should be to Tsuen Wan because:
(a)
(b)
by the end of 1982 there will be extreme pressure upon the Tsuen Wan corridor, if limitations of kerbside space prevent further expansion of public service transport by then;
as many of the Tsuen Wan passengers would also ride on the MIS, it is likely to assist, more than any other extensions, in the viability of the MTR;
CONFIDENTIAL #