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Submarine Telegraph Bill 1996
Following is a speech by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, in moving the third reading of the Submarine Telegraph Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President.
The Submarine Telegraph Bill 1996 has passed through Committee without amendment. I move that this Bill be read the third time and do pass.
End
Railways Bill
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Gordon Siu, in moving the second reading of the Railways Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move that the Railways Bill be read the second time. This Bill is new legislation designed to support in general the implementation of railway projects.
The Railway Development Strategy formulated in 1994 accorded high priority to three railway projects for implementation. One of the three projects, the Western Corridor Railway, will be one of Hong Kong's largest heavy rail projects. The sheer length of the railway means that many private lots will be affected and large scale land resumption will have to be undertaken.
In the course of studying the feasibility of the project, we have also examined a number of our existing ordinances which have land resumption provisions and found that none are entirely adequate on its own for the implementation of railway projects. It was decided that new legislation should be drafted to take forward the new projects.
A suitable legal framework would need to contain provisions for the preparation and publication of plans, objections, payment of compensation to persons whose interests are affected, reclamation of land, resumption of land or strata, creation of temporary and permanent easements and wayleaves.