WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1978
GOVERNOR OPENS SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, EMPHASISED TODAY THAT IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS WAS THE ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOR THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF NEW TOWNS AND BOTH OLD AND NEW COMMUNITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND LION ROCK TUNNEL SIR MURRAY DESCRIBED IT AS THE MOST SPECTACULAR AND SYMBOL IC+ PART OF A NEW COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM THAT BY 1983 WILL SERVE 600,000 RESIDENTS.
+OUR NORTH-EAST IS AN AREA OF GREAT BEAUTY AND GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FOR RECREATION THIS IS ITS GATEWAY, AND THROUGH IT INCREASED WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY WILL FLOW, SIR MURRAY SAID.
+ IT MUST BE OUR TASK TO ENSURE THAT THESE BENEFIT ORIGINAL INHABITANTS AND NEW RESIDENTS ALIKE, AND THAT THEY ENABLE NEW COMMUNITIES TO GROW AND PROSPER IN NEW AND ATTRACTIVE CONDITIONS UNTHOUGHT OF IN THE 50'S AND 60'S WHEN CONGESTED URBAN AREAS WERE BUILT UP,+ HE ADDED.
THE NEW COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM ALSO INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COASTAL EXTENSION OF THE HIGHWAY FROM SHA TIN TO TAI PO THAT WILL START THIS YEAR AND THE PROGRESSIVE DOUBLE TRACKING OF THE RAILWAY.
SIR MURRAY THANKED THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THEIR ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS AND WORKMEN FOR THE IR EXPERTISE AND ENERGY IN BUILDING THE TUNNEL AND ITS ACCOMPANYING WORKS WHICH OPENED UP FOR ALL OF US +THESE NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES+.
EARLIER, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, SAID IN HIS SPEECH WELCOMING THE GOVERNOR THAT THE NEW TUNNEL +REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STAGE IN THE PLAN FOR A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY LINK ING KOWLOON WITH SHA TIN AND THE REST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES. +
HE SAID THAT THE TUNNEL, WHICH IS SOME 1,400 METRES-LONG AND ACCOMMODATES GAS AND WATER PIPES AS WELL AS A TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY, WAS CONSTRUCTED AT A COST OF $68 MILLION AND TOOK OVER FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE.
AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE NEW TUNNEL WAS HANDED OVER TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC, WHILE THE FIRST TUNNEL WOULD BE CLOSED TO ALLOW ALTERATION AND
IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT LATER THIS YEAR, BOTH TUNNELS WOULD BE I SERVICE AND THEY WOULD PROVIDE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE ROAD COMMUNICATIONS.
AFTER UNVEILING THE PLAQUE, THE GOVERNOR WENT ON A TOUR OF THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ACCOMPANIED BY MR. IAN MACPHERSON. COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT- MR. DAVID MCDONALD. DIRECTOR OF P.W.D.- MR. DAVID STEAD, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT OF P.W.D. AND MR. STAN BARDEN, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER.