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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1981
MTR WORK EXEMPTION TO STAY
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THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO LIFT THE EXEMPTION GRANTED TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION WHICH ALLOWS THE CORPORATION TO CARRY OUT CONSTRUCTION WORKS 24 HOURS A DAY, INCLUDING PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON DEREK JONES SAID THE EXEMPTION WAS GRANTED TO MTRC QUITE DELIBERATELY BY STATUTE AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ESSENTIAL IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
+TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD ADD TO COSTS AND, WHAT IS MORE OBJECTIONABLE, LENGTHEN THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, HE SAID.
+THE CORPORATION DOES, HOWEVER, TRY SO TO PROGRAMME ITS WORK AS TO REDUCE THE USE OF NOISY EQUIPMENT AT NIGHT TO THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM. +
A FURTHER PERTINENT POINT, MR JONES SAID, IS THAT THE GREATER PART OF THE WORK ON THE TSUEN WAN EXTENSION WILL BE FINISHED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR- AND THE NEED TO USE NOISY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE WORK ON THIS ECTION OF THE NETWORK, AS WAS THE CASE EARLIER WITH THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM.
+ IN ADDITION, THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION TO BE USED FOR THE ISLAND LINE WILL BE MUCH LESS NOISY, IN THAT IT WILL GENERALLY EMPLOY BORED TUNNELLING TECHNIQUES RATHER THAN CUT AND COVER, AND MOST OF THE STATION CONCOURSES WILL BE BUILT OFF-STREET UNDER BUILDINGS, HE ADDED.
NO CHANGE IN TUNNEL FEE COLLECTION METHOD
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THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT PROPOSE TO ASK THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY TO CONSIDER CHARGING CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL FEES IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HARRY FANG, MR JONES SAID THAT THE CONSULTANTS STUDYING THE OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL CROSS HARBOUR FACILITIES HAVE ADVISED THAT THE MAJOR CAUSE OF CONGESTION IN THE TUNNEL IS NOT THE TOLL BOOTH CAPACITY BUT THE MERGING OF TRAFFIC AT THE ENTRANCES AT BOTH ENDS OF THE TUNNEL.
+THIS WOULD NOT BE ALLEVIATED -- AND INDEED IT COULD WELL BE AGGRAVATED BY THE INSTITUTION OF ONE DIRECTIONAL TOLL COLLECTION,+ HE SAID.
UNLESS STEPS WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT IT, HE ADDED, DRIVERS WOULD HAVE INCENTIVE TO USE THE TUNNEL IN THE FREE DIRECTION AND RETURN BY VEHICULAR FERRY, THUS AVOIDING PAYMENT WHICH WOULD IMBALANCE THE SERVICES AND LEAD TO A LOSS OF REVENUE FOR BOTH COMPANIES.
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