XN000022-1978-07-05 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1978

LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM PROPOSED FOR HONG KONG ISLAND

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A GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED STUDY ON TRANSPORT SITUATION ON HONG KONG ISLAND PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASS TRANSIT LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM WHICH IS 50 PER CENT FASTER THAN THE EXISTING TRAMS AND CAPABLE OF CARRYING HALF AS MUCH MORE PASSENGERS,

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG.

MR. JONES SAID THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM WILL AT FIRST RUN ENTIRELY ON THE SURFACE MORE OR LESS ALONG THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PRESENT TRAMWAY AND WITH A LARGELY SEGREGATED RIGHT OF WAY. THEREAFTER, SECTIONS OF THE TRACK WILL BE PLACED UNDERGROUND WITH THE AIM, EVENTUALLY, OF CONSTRUCTING A FULLY UNDERGROUND MASS TRANSIT ISLAND LINE.

HE SAID: THIS PHASED DEVELOPMENT WILL ENSURE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE SHORT TERM, WHILE RETAINING THE OPTION OF DEVELOPING A FULLY UNDERGROUND MTR

ISLAND LINE IN THE LONGER TERM, +

HE SAID AN UNDERGROUND SECTION WILL BE CONSTRUCTED THROUGH CENTRAL DISTRICT AT AN EARLY STAGE TO ENAELE PASSENGERS TO INTER- CHANGE EASILY WITH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AT ADMIRALTY AND AT CHATER/PEDDER STATIONS.

+THE PLAN,+ HE CONTINUED, +ALSO INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED EXPRESS BUS ROUTES ALONG THE NEW WATERFRONT ROADS, AS THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED, AS WELL AS THROUGH THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.+

MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPROACHED THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO ASSIST IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDIES AND, IF IT WAS LATER DECIDED TO PROCEED, THE CORPORATION WOULD BE INVITED TO DEVELOP AND OPERATE THE SYSTEM AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MTR.

ON THE OTHER. HAND, MR. JONES SAID, THE HONG KONG TRAMWAYS COMPANY HAS ALSO BEEN FORMALLY ADVISED THAT IF, FOLLOWING THE DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION STUDIES, IT IS DECIDED TO DEVELOP THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD THEN EXERCISE ITS OPTION, UNDER THE TRAMWAY ORDINANCE, TO PURCHASE THE TRAMWAY.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY STARTED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TRAMWAYS COMPANY ON HOW THIS MIGHT MOST SMOOTHLY BE CARRIED OUT WHILE MAINTAINING AN EFFICIENT SERVICE IN THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

MR. JONES ALSC STRESSED THAT VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE POSITION OF TRAMWAYS STAFF AND THEY COULD BE ASSURED OF WELL TREATMENT. SUITABLE TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE CHOSEN TO OPERATE THE LIGHT RAIL VEHICLES IF THE GO- AHEAD IS GIVEN, HE ADDED.

A SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY AND MR. JONES SAID A PRESS BRIEFING TO PROVIDE A MORE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF WHAT IS PROPSED IN THE STUDY WOULD BE ARRANGED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

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