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Governor: Totally, totally and we have provided a great deal of information to Chinese officials, both inside the JLG and outside and will continue to do so.
The only point that I was seeking to make is that the decisions taken about the Western Corridor Railway, in many cases, will be taken either on the brink of the transition or after the transition and they'll be about a project which lies wholly within the autonomy of the SAR. Now that doesn't mean that Chinese officials shouldn't be kept fully informed. Of course they should be kept fully informed but I don't think we should think that we have to negotiate each element as we try to put together the information, out of which a decision will be shaped, with Chinese officials. I don't think that would be in the interests of Hong Kong and I don't think it would be in the interests of getting on with the project as quickly as possible.
So I'm all for giving maximum information. I'm also all for ensuring that we have all the information that we need in order to make a decision as soon as we can.
The honourable member actually mentioned two issues which I didn't touch on. One issue, namely the commencement date. We'll obviously want to start the project if it's agreed to go ahead with it, as soon we can. The problems, not unique, but the problems that we particularly face with the Western Corridor Railway are those of land resumption in the New Territories which will both take time and be fairly costly. We'll be coming to this Council later in the year with legislative proposals which would enable us to resume land, not just for the Western Corridor Railway, but for other rail projects as well and I hope that members will deal with that legislation expeditiously. I can assure the honourable member and others tie their hands as far as the Western Corridor Railway is concerned but it will make it possible to go ahead with the Western Corridor Railway rapidly, if honourable members here and others decide that that should happen.
Dr Yeung Sum (in Chinese): Thank you Mr President. I'm more concerned about the disabled and job opportunities for them. How could the Government take the lead and provide job opportunities for them? And how would the Government go about encouraging employers to employ these disabled people?
Governor: We had what I thought, and I believe those present thought, was a third interesting and useful summit on the issue of disability and employment last week. Certainly one member of the Council who's here at the moment was there and played a distinguished part in the proceedings.