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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 197
DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ALSO SUPPORTED THE MCTION AND REITERATED HIS EARLIER PLEA FOR ACCESS LIFTS TO BE INSTALLED
FOR THE DISABLED +SO THAT, LIKE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC, THEY TOO CAN MAKE USE OF THE SPEEDIER AND MORE RELIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORT WHICH THE EXTENSION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO TSUEN WAN WILL PROVIDE.+
DR. FANG POINTED OUT THAT MANY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK+, WERE PREVENTED FROM ACCEPTING JOBS THROUGH LACK OF A SUITABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORT.
+TSUEN WAN IS AN IMPORTANT MANUFACTURING TOWN, HENCE PROVISION FOR THE HANDICAPPED ON THE KOWLOON-TSUEN WAN SECTION OF THE MTR WOULD OPEN UP GREATER POSSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE DISABLED,+ HE EXPLAINED.
ACCESS LIFTS WOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE SECTOR, HE SAID, AND SINCE THE TERMINAL AT KWUN TONG WAS TO BE ABOVE GROUND, THE PROVISION OF LIFTS AT PRINCE EDWARD STATION SHOULD MEAN THAT THE DISABLED COULD ALSO USE THE KWUN TONG SECTOR AND INCREASE THEIR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT HEAVILY INDUSTRIAL ISED AREA.
HE WAS SURE SINKING ONE OR EVEN TWO LIFTS AT PRINCE EDWARD STATION AND IF NECESSARY AT THE TERMINAL AT TSUEN WAN WEST FOR USE BY THE DISABLED WAS NOT BEYOND THE COMPETENCE OF THE MANY
MTR EXPERTS NOW IN HONG KONG AND SHOULD NOT BE BEYOND OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
IF THE MTRC WAS UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT INVOLVED, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT INCREASE ITS EQUITY IN THE MTR TO MEET THE COST WHICH, IN RELATION TO THE TOTAL OUTLAY, WOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE.
HE FURTHER HOPED THAT TO ENABLE THE DISABLED TO GET TO THE MTR STATIONS, FEEDER BUSES, MODIFIED FOR USE BY THE DISABLED WOULD ALSO BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION AS PART OF THE LONG-TERM PLAN TO PROVIDE MORE ADEQUATE AND SUITABLE TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THEM.
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