XN000022-1979-04-11 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979

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TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER TO BE PRESENTED NEXT MONTH

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THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON. D.J.C. JONES, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE WOULD PRESENT A WHITE PAPER ON INTERNAL TRANSPORT TO THE COUNCIL NEXT MONTH.

HE SAID THIS WHILE REFERRING TO CERTAIN POINTS MADE BY THE HON. J.H. BREMRIDGE ABOUT TRANSPORT.

ON MR. BREMRIDGE'S PROPOSAL THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO A NEW CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE HARBOUR, MR. JONES SAID:

+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW, AS PART OF ITS ON-GOING LONG-TERM PLANNING ON TRANSPORT, CONSIDERING A STUDY ON ALL POSSIBILITIES OF FURTHER FIXED HARBOUR CROSSINGS, INCLUDING ADDITIONS TO THE EXISTING TUNNEL.

+ KNOW THAT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY IS ALSO CONDUCTING ITS OWN INVESTIGATIONS AND ANY PROPOSALS IT PUTS FORWARD WILL BE CONSIDERED SYMPATHETICALLY BY THE GOVERNMENT.+

ON BUS SERVICES, MR. JONES SAID THE FRANCHISES OF BOTH THE KOWLOON AND CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANIES WILL BE UP FOR REVIEW AND POSSIBLE ROLL-OVER THIS AUTUMN.

+THIS WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE COMPANIES' PERFORMANCES AND THE NEED FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICES WILL BE CONSIDERED THEN,+ HE ADDED.

ON ANOTHER POINT BY MR. BREMRIDGE, MR. JONES SAID NEGOTIATIONS ARE STARTING ON NEW FERRY FRANCHISES AND A NEW FERRIES ORDINANCE AND ONE OF THE MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WILL BE THE RENTS TO BE CHARGED FOR GOVERNMENT OWNED FERRY PIERS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY ARE ALREADY SHARING IN THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF SOME PIERS, AND OTHER PROJECTS ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

EARLIER, MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW DOING FAR MORE IN LAND PRODUCTION AND SALES THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND DURING THE COMING MONTHS THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER AMENDMENT OF TERMS RELATING TO PREMIUM FOR ALL TYPES OF LAND, INCLUDING INDUSTRIAL LAND, WILL BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER INTEREST RATES ON INSTALMENT PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO MARKET RATES, HE SAID.

IT HAD NEVER BEEN GOVERNMENT POLICY TO MANIPULATE LAND SALES SO AS TO MAXIMISE REVENUE, BUT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS USED IN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY, MR. JONES STRESSED.

/+IN THE