WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 191
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THE COMPLETION OF THE KCR ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT BY EARLY 1983 AND THE MTR ISLAND LINE BY 1985 AND 86 WOULD FURTHER EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE INTEGRATED RAIL TRANSIT NETWORK WHICH WAS AT THE CENTRE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG.
HOWEVER, MR JONES SAID, IN THE 1990S, ANOTHER FIXED HARBOUR CROSSING WOULD BE NECESSARY" IN THE WESTERN HARBOUR.
+THIS WILL BE EXTREMELY COSTLY TO CONSTRUCT AND IT WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE PLANNED IN CONJUNCTION WITH FURTHER LAND RECLAMATIONS IN THAT AREA OF THE HARBOUR, HE SAID.
TUEN MUN HIGHWAY
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THERE HAVE BEEN 422 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY RESULTING IN 73 DEATHS SINCE IT OPENED IN MAY 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON DEREK JONES, SAID IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
EXPRESSED AS ACCIDENTS PER MILLION VEHICLE KILOMETRES
TRAVELLED, THEY ARE ONLY ABOUT A FIFTH OF THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS PER MILLION VEHICLE KILOMETRES ON ALL ROADS IN HONG KONG OVER THE SAME PERIOD, HE SAID.
+THE TUEN MUN ROAD IS THEREFORE A SAFER ROAD THAN THE GENERALITY OF OUR ROADS, HE SAID.
+HOWEVER , PRO RATA, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS IS GREATER ON THE TUEN MUN ROAD, MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER SPEEDS INVOLVED AND EVERY EFFORT MUST THEREFORE BE MADE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS YET FURTHER, HE ADDED.
MR JONES SAID THAT THE MAJOR STEP BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION IS TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING OF THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE, THUS SEPARATING THE TRAFFIC MOVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.
THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY JANUARY 1983, SIX MONTHS AHEAD OF THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE AND SECTIONS WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC AS SOON AS THEY ARE COMPLETED, HE SAID.
MEANWHILE, STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION ON THE SECTIONS OF ROAD STILL SUBJECT TO TWO-WAY OPERATION.
+FIRST, THE VISIBILITY OF ROAD MARKINGS IN THE DARK ARE BEING INCREASED BY THE INSTALLATION OF REFLECTIVE ROAD STUDS AND BY ADDITIONAL CHEVRON SIGNS.+
+SECONDLY, THE POLICE PATROLS ON THE HIGHWAY WILL STEP UP THEIR EFFORTS TO ENFORCE THE 40 M.P.H. SPEED LIMIT AND TO PROSECUTE OTHER RECKLESS DRIVERS, HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE INSERTING A SECTION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF TI-LANE HIGHWAY DRIVING IN THE NEW EDITION OF THE HIGHWAY CODE NOW BEING PREPARED.
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