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Airport railway
Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung Kin-kee and a written reply by the Secretary for Works, Mr James Blake, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
The Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) states in its Annual Report that the Airport Railway will not become operational until the second quarter of 1998. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council whether :
(a)
the railway will be fully or partly operational in 1998; and
(b)
the completion date of the terminal building will be delayed as a result?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
We have already announced that as a result of the delay in the award of the Central Reclamation contract in 1993, it is not possible to complete the Hong Kong Station of the Airport Railway until the second quarter of 1998. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation sees no reason why the Airport Railway cannot be fully operational in 1998.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Chinese and British Governments in 1991, we are committed to complete the new airport at Chek Lap Kok to the maximum extent possible by mid-1997. In accordance with this obligation, it remains our objective to complete the Passenger Terminal Building according to the current schedule, regardless of any change in the opening date of the Airport Railway.
End/Wednesday, May 10, 1995