(b)
48
Lok Ma Chau is now the busiest crossing point and we have the capacity there to increase the number of kiosks. At present, only 9 of the 14 processing kiosks are in use and we have the space there for further expansion and providing up to 24 kiosks. In addition, more kiosks can be opened round the clock at this check point if traffic volumes justify this. It is also important to note that road access to the border will be greatly improved with the completion of the dual lane Route 3 (Country Park Section) in 1998.
The need to provide additional border crossing points as well as new access roads are being studied in the context of the Territorial Development Strategy review. In this respect, the recently established Infrastructure Coordinating Committee will provide an excellent forum for the discussion of strategic plans with Chinese representatives, so as to ensure that future processing capacity on both sides of the border can match rising demand.
Apart from road access, Honourable Members are aware that, as announced in the Railway Development Strategy, we are also planning the construction of a new railway line in the North West New Territories from the border to the urban area for completion by the year 2001. This will enhance the carriage of freight containers by rail directly into the Kwai Chung container port and will thus relieve the road system and pressure at the border crossing points. The KCRC has already been invited to submit proposals for building and operating this railway.
The present operating procedures and the physical layout of the border crossing points does not permit parallel checking by the Immigration and Customs Officers, and redesign of the crossing points would be difficult We do and disruptive given the physical constraints of the sites. however keep under constant review measures to streamline border crossing procedures. For example, the Immigration Department will install optical character readers in September this year at the three crossing points to speed up the checking of drivers' identity papers.
End/Wednesday, March 8, 1995
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