WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1500
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FOR INSTANCE, MR, WU SAID, ONE CAN STILL TRAVEL BY PUBLIC BUS FROM PEDDER STREET TO THE PROPOSED MTR TERMINUS IN KWUN TONG IN ABOUT 35 MINUTES FOR $1, AND THIS TIME CAN ONLY BE IMPROVED BY 1980 IF THE THEN COMPLETED AND OPERATIONAL MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM IS TO SERVE ITS DESIGNED PURPOSE TO ALLEVIATE ROAD CONGESTION, WHILE IT IS NOT ANTICIPATED THERE WOULD BE ANY INCREASE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE IN THIS CROSS HARBOUR BUS ROUTE, WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO THE MTR ROUTE CHARGING $2.50 AT 1975 PRICES.
THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN CURRENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES AND MTR FARES SHOULD BE AMPLY COMPENSATED FOR BY THE SPEED, REGULARITY, COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF THE RAILWAY IS A MATTER OF JUDGMENT, MR. WU SAID, BUT HE AGREED WITH THE IMPLIED PRINCIPLE OF FAIR COMPETITION BY THE VARIOUS PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES THAT WOULD THEN BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
+HOWEVER, WHAT I CANNOT AGREE TO WOULD BE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION WHEREBY SURFACE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES ROUTES AND SERVICES ARE REVISED SOLELY TO MAKE THE MTR VIABLE,
+CONSIDERING THAT A LARGE PORTION OF OUR WORKING PEOPLE AND STUDENTS USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, THE INFLATIONARY EFFECT OF SUCH MEASURES WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE, AND I SUGGEST THAT THE COMMUNITY'S INTEREST MUST OVERRIDE THAT OF THE MTR, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE MOTION MOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS ADJOURNED.
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