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Mr Chow said Airbuses, conventional buses, high-speed ferries and taxis would also be important components in the public transport strategy.
"The Airbus routes will serve major hotel and commercial areas while the conventional franchised bus services will cater for workers at the new airport and residents of Tung Chung New Town travelling to Kowloon and the New Territories," he said.
"It is proposed that the commencement of the Airbus services would coincide with the opening of the new airport while the introduction of two new external bus routes would coincide with the demand brought about by the completion of the first public housing blocks in Tung Chung New Town in June 1997."
Mr Chow said the provision of the Airbus and conventional bus services would be tendered out as would be the high-speed ferry service between Chek Lap Kok and Tuen Mun.
Commenting on the operation of taxi services, Mr Chow pointed out that all three classes of taxis would be permitted to access the Ground Transportation Centre (GTC) but only urban taxis would be allowed to access other parts of Chek Lap Kok Island and Tung Chung New Town.
"For NT taxis, they will also be permitted to serve Tsing Yi Airport Railway Station to enable passengers to interchange for Airport Railway to the new airport, Tung Chung New Town and the urban areas.
"The Lantau taxis, besides accessing the GTC, will be permitted to pick-up and drop-off passengers at Tung Chung village areas, the public transport interchange at the Airport Railway Station and the clinic in Tung Chung New Town," he said.
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Mr Chow added that the consultant had considered carefully the functions of the three different classes of taxis and, many other factors before coming up with the taxi-related proposals.
He reiterated that these were preliminary proposals and the Government would consult all interested parties and take into account their comments in making a decision on the final recommendations.
End