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Worries have also been expressed by some members of the District Boards about the LRT project. They queried the viability of the system in view of its intense capital commitment and the fact that its maximum capacity of taking 70,000 passengers per hour will far exceed the estimated demand of 300,000 passengers
On the other hand, the proposed per day by the end of 1988. amendment to section 4 (2) (e) and (f) of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance confer on the KCRC the power to determine the fares and routes of both the LRT and the feeder buses within the TSA. The exclusion from application of Section 16 (1) (a) of the Public Bus Services Ordinance to the feeder bus services in the TSA means that the KCRC, unlike other franchised bus companies, will have the power to determine the frequencies of its feeder bus services. These powers, coupled with the exclusive right to provide public transport in the TSA, have given rise to worries amongst the public that the extent of power the KCRC is given to enjoy may result in lower quality of service provided and higher fares charged. For philosophical reasons, some members of the District Boards have advocated for the setting up of an independent statutory body composed of members of Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Boards, representatives from the KCRC, the Government and other local bodies to make decisions in respect of management, corporation policy as well as determination of the
After considering fares, routes and frequencies of LRT services. its practicality and the fact that the suggestion represents a radical change to our present system of control on the operation of public utilities, it was rejected by the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Boards. The two District Boards have, however, agreed to set up a joint monitoring body to monitor the services provided by the LRT and its feeder buses. It is hoped that the KCRC will give primary consideration to the well-being of the community in its operation and that fares will be set at a level affordable by the general public.