TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1975
THIS CONCLUSION HAS BEEN ARRIVED AT AFTER THE MOST DETAILED AND CAREFUL STUDY OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THE ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS A SURFACE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM, DOUBLE-DECKING OF THE MAIN ROUTES IN THE URBAN AREA, BUILDING MORE AND WIDER ROADS (WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE WHOLESALE RESUMPTION AND DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS), ETC., WOULD EITHER NOT DE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PROBLEM OR WOULD BE HORE COSTLY, OR BOTH.
THE ALTERNATIVE OF NOT PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND ACCEPTING THE RESULTANT CONGESTION WOULD, IN ITS TURN. BRING A HEAVY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COST IN TERMS OF TIME LOST ON ALL JOURNEYS BY ALL ROAD USERS. SUCH A DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE BOUND TO INCREASE COSTS ALL ROUND IN THE ECONOMY, REDUCE HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVENESS AND LEAD TO LOWER LIVING STANDARDS AND DAMAGE THE QUALITY AND STANDARD OF LIFE.
IN VIEW OF THIS, THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY HAS, OVER
THE LAST TWO MONTHS, DEVLOPED A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE INITIAL SYSTEM AND ASSESSED ITS VIABILITY. THE RESULTS OF THIS INTENSIVE EXERCISE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE.
THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM SEEKS A MAXIMUM RETURN ON INVESTMENT BY SELECTING, FROM THE INITIAL SYSTEM, THOSE SECTIONS OF LINE WHICH RUN THROUGH THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED URBAN DISTRICTS AND WHICH ARE, THEREFORE, THE MOST COMMERCIALLY VIABLE, ON THIS BASIS THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM IS A CONTINUOUS S-SHAPED LINE RUNNING FROM KWUN TONG THROUGH NORTH EAST KOWLOON, NATHAN ROAD AND FINALLY UNDER THE HARBOUR TO CENTRAL DISTRICT. BY RUNNING THROUGH THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED URBAN DISTRICTS AND PROVIDING A LINK WITH CENTRAL DISTRICT THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM -
A. SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE USAGE AND, THEREFORE, REVENUE #
AND
B. WILL AFFORD THE MAXIMUM RELIEF OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
NOW THAT THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN APPROVED IN PRINCIPLE THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WILL SHORTLY ANNOUNCE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BY WHICH INTERESTED PARTIES MAY TENDER FOR PARTS OF THE PROJECT, THE GOVERNMENT HAVING DECIDED THAT THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY SHOULD NOW PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT ON
A MULTI-CONTRACT BASIS. WORK IS NOW PROCEEDING ON THE PREPARATION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS. IT IS HOPED THAT CONTRACTS CAN BE LET WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS AND THAT CONSTRUCTION CAN START
IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THE AIM IS TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM TO HAVE IT FULLY OPERATIONAL BY MID-1980,
THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY REGRETS ITS INABILITY TO MAKE AN EARLIER STATEMENT ON THE POSITION REGARDING THIS
IMPORTANT PROJECT. THIS HAS BEEN PARTLY BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM AND PARTLY
BECAUSE A PREMATURE STATEMENT COULD HAVE PREJUDICED THE NEGOTIATIONS
ON COMPENSATION.
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