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Turning now to the Hon Ho Chun-yan's specific questions:
(a)
(b)
(c)
The Government has always been conscious that the land requirements of the WCR project will be very substantial. KCRC estimates that the project will require some 4 million square metres of land. This includes about 1.3 million square metres of private land, comprising over 2 600 lots, which will need to be resumed. To meet the target completion date of late 2001, KCRC's programme requires land to be made progressively available from the third quarter of 1997.
The exact timing of the land resumption programme can, however, only be firmed up after the alignment, scope and phasing of the proposed project have been confirmed and agreed. Meanwhile the Administration is now considering the need for legislation that will include powers to facilitate the resumption of land for the railway project.
The vast land resumption requirements will give rise to significant staffing implications, particularly for the Lands Department. We are currently exploring how best the necessary resources can be made available. Other difficulties associated with land resumption such as grave and village removals will also need to be overcome.
Our target is to complete the Western Corridor Railway by late 2001. It must however be recognised that this project will be the largest single railway project ever undertaken in Hong Kong. In terms of size, its rail length is about one and half times that of the Airport Railway. Complicated land, environmental, financial and engineering considerations will arise and will need to be resolved. Steering and Project Working Groups have already been set up within the Transport Branch and Highways Department to co-ordinate work related to the WCR. We will do our best to press ahead with this enormous task.