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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1984
MTR ENTRANCE FOR STATUE SQUARE
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TO ALLOW THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO COPE WITH DOUBLED PASSENGER TRAFFIC WHEN THE ISLAND LINE IS OPENED, THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CAREFULLY DESIGNED MTR ENTRANCE AND EXIT ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF STATUE SQUARE, FACING PRINCE'S BUILDING.
ABOUT 160 SQUARE METRES WILL BE INVOLVED WHICH IS AT PRESENT OCCUPIED BY PLANTERS, A PAVILION AND BENCHES.
+ THE PROPOSAL WAS AGREED AT TODAY'S MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL FOLLOWING EARLIER IN-DEPTH CONSIDERATION BY THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, AND TALKS BETWEEN THE MTR AND THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION,+ SAID A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN.
+WITH THE OPENING OF THE ISLAND LINE SERVICE TO SHEUNG WAN THE MTR ESTIMATES THAT PASSENGER FLOWS IN CENTRAL STATION WILL DOUBLE FROM 250 000 TO HALF A MILLION PEOPLE A DAY, EXCEEDING THE DESIGNED CAPACITIES OF EXISTING AND ADDITIONAL ENTRANCES PRESENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
+THIS SITE IN STATUE SQUARE IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN OPTIMUM LOCATION FOR PASSENGER ENTRY AND EXIT.
+
IN COMPENSATION, SAID THE SPOKESMAN THE MTR WOULD PAY FOR ALL THE WORK, RE-DESIGN THE WHOLE STRIP OF LAND ALONG THE WESTERN SIDE OF STATUE SQUARE, AND PROVIDE AN OPEN AND GLAZED GARDEN PERGOLA WITH PLANTS GROWING ON TOP TO PROVIDE SHADE TO THE ENTRANCE AND THE SITTING-OUT AREAS BELOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE MTR WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEW FACILITIES. FINALLY, NO MATURE TREES WOULD BE AFFECTED.
TODAY'S MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS CHAIRED BY THE COUNCIL'S VICE CHAIRMAN, MR H.M.G. FORSGATE, IN THE ABSENCE OVERSEAS OF THE CHAIRMAN, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.
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