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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1979
INITIAL WORK ON EASTERN ISLAND CORRIDOR
EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT FISCAL YEAR
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PRELIMINARY WORK ON THE NEW EASTERN ISLAND CORRIDOR WILL PROCEED DURING THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR- AND IF ALL GOES WELL- AND THAT INCLUDES THE ECONOMY GENERALLY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE STRAIN
THE FIRST PART OF THE NEW ROAD COULD BE READY IN 1985.
THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR. DAVID JEAFFRESON, TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW NORTH POINT FERRY PIER (WEST).
MR. JEAFFRESON SAID: +THIS CORRIDOR WILL HELP GREATLY TO RELIEVE THE VERY SERIOUS TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF HONG KONG ISLAND.+
+ IT WILL BE BACKED BY VASTLY IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER, PERHAPS INCLUDING A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, HE ADDED.
MR. JEAFFRESON CONFIRMED THAT THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY IS DISCUSSING WITH THE GOVERNMENT THE POSSIBILITY OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT FERRY PIERS GENERALLY AND PARTICULARLY ON THE NEWLY OPENED PIER.
+WITH OUR PRESENT SHORTAGE OF LAND, MY OWN VIEW IS THAT FERRY PIERS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED TO THE MAXIMUM, + HE SAID.
THOUGH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD MAKE THE PIERS MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE TO USERS. MR. JEAFFRESON FELT THAT IN THE TRUE HONG KONG TRADITION, THIS DEVELOPMENT MUST BE ON A FULLY COMMERCIAL BASIS. THERE MUST BE NO HIDDEN SUBSIDY FROM GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO USERS OF THE FERRIES.
+THERE IS A RECENT PRECEDENT HERE, TOO, HE SAID. +THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION HAS DEVELOPED EXTENSIVELY ABOVE ITS STATIONS. BUT IT PAID FULL PREMIA IN ORDER TO DO SO.+
MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO EXPLAINED THAT ONE OF THE BERTHS OF THE NEW PIER WILL BE OUT OF OPERATION UNTIL 1981 TO FACILITATE THE INTERCONNECTION OF CABLES BETWEEN THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO. AND HONG KONG ELECTRIC CO WHICH WILL ENABLE BOTH COMPANIES TO ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS IN COSTS AND IN TURN WILL BENEFIT THE CONSUMERS IN TERMS OF THE PRICE THEY PAY FOR ELECTRICITY.
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