WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988
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PROJECT AN INTERNATIONAL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL PROJECT IS ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, THE HON MARIA TAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MISS TAM NOTED THAT THE CONSORTIUM WHICH FORMED THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL COMPANY LIMITED COMPRISED BRITISH, CHINESE, JAPANESE AND LOCAL INTERESTS.
THE CONSORTIUM REPRESENTED INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG BY INVESTING IN A 30-YEAR TUNNEL FRANCHISE, MISS TAM SAID WHEN SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL BILL 1988.
SHE SAID IT WAS WITH PLEASURE THAT THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP SET UP TO EXAMINE THE BILL GAVE ITS SUPPORT.
MISS TAM, THE CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP, SAID CONSUMERS WOULD BE PROTECTED FROM UNANTICIPATED TOLL INCREASES THROUGH A SERIES OF GUARANTEES GIVEN BY THE CONSORTIUM MEMBER WHICH WOULD ENSURE A LOW INITIAL TOLL AND A STABLE TOLL STRUCTURE.
THE GUARANTEES ASSURED TIMELY COMPLETION OF THE TUNNEL AND APPROACH ROADS WITHIN 37 MONTHS AND ALSO PREVENTED COST INCREASES DUE TO FLUCTUATION IN INTEREST RATES, ESCALATION IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, LOWER THAN PROJECTED OPERATING INCOME FOR THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS, AND DELAY IN COMPLETION, FROM BEING TRANSLATED DIRECTLY INTO TOLL INCREASES.
MISS TAM NOTED THAT UNLIKE THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL WOULD NOT CARRY A RAIL LINK.
"THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP HAD ENQUIRED INTO THE REASON FOR THIS AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT IN ENGINEERING TERMS IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO CONSTRUCT A TUNNEL THROUGH THE ROCK WITH A DIAMETER SO WIDE AS ΤΟ RENDER CONSTRUCTION UNECONOMICAL, SHE SAID.
"
IF THE NEED SHOULD ARISE IN FUTURE, A SEPARATE COULD BE CONSTRUCTED AND IN FACT THIS WOULD BE A BETTER TO HAVE BOTH ROAD AND RAIL LINK IN THE SAME TUNNEL.
RAIL TUNNEL OPTION THAN
VIEW OF THE ROCK TUNNEL,
MISS TAM ADDED THAT THE AD HOC GROUP HAD. IN EXPERIENCE OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THE LION REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK INTO THE DESIGNS OF THE APPROACH ROADS TO BOTH ENDS OF THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL AND ADVISE THE CONSORTIUM THAT THE TUNNEL APPROACHES SHOULD CATER FOR THE POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF TIDAL FLOW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS.
SHOULD
WHILE
THERE SHOULD BE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY SO THAT IF THE NEED ARISE, ALL THE FOUR LANES COULD BE USED FOR SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC, AT THE SAME TIME THE LION ROCK TUNNEL COULD ALLOW FOUR LANES ΤΟ GO NORTH. THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED ΤΟ PUT THESE PROPOSALS CONSORTIUM.
TO THE
THE TUNNEL'S
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