XN000022-1981-10-07 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981

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TRANSPORT PROJECTS COST $4 BILLION

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND $4 BILLION ON TRANSPORT PROJECTS THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENT QULD BE COMING INTO SERVICE ALL WITHIN A YEAR, SUCH AS THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, THE AIRPORT TUNNEL, THE TSUEN WAN EXTENSION OF THE MASS TRANS IT RAILWAY AND THE MODERNISATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND ITS INTERCHANGE WITH THE MTR.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, IT WOULD NOT BE UNTIL BETWEEN 1984 AND 1986 THAT SOME MAJOR AREAS OF CONGESTION ARE CLEARED BY COMPLETION OF THE ISLAND LINE AND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE KOWLOON WESTERN CORRIDOR, THE TSUEN WAN BY-PASS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD.

+EARLY RELIEF THROUGH WORKS IS THEREFORE NOT POSSIBLE IN MANY PLACES AND MEANWHILE WE MUST FACE THE FACT THAT OUR TOTAL VEHICLE POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY 64 PER CENT IN FIVE YEARS AND PRIVATE CARS BY 75 PER CENT.

+NO DOUBT IT IS THE RESULT OF UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH AND CONSISTENT PROSPERITY, BUT THE CONSEQUENCE IS SERIOUS CONGESTION.

+1 AM AFRAID THAT THE QUESTION HAS BECOME NO LONGER WHETHER RESTRAINTS ON ROAD USE ARE NECESSARY, BUT ONLY WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND LEAST INCONVENIENT FORM THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MANY MAJOR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS TO BE STUDIED AND SOLVED.

+THEY INCLUDE A FURTHER CROSS-HARBOUR LINK, ACCESS TO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA IN JUNK BAY, TRANSPORT FACILITIES TO LINK WITH KOWLOON THE VERY LARGE ADDITIONAL TOWN THAT WILL SHORTLY BE BUILT BETWEEN SHA TIN AND MA ON SHAN, AND OF COURSE THE SITING AND TRANSPORT SUPPORT FOR A NEW AIRPORT, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

SIR MURRAY ADDED THAT WITH MANY IMMEDIATE, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM PROBLEMS TO SOLVE, OF SUCH A HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND CONTENTIOUS NATURE, THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET UP A NEW TRANSPORT BRANCH IN THE SECRETARIAT HEADED BY ITS OWN SECRETARY, AND WAS ALSO STRENGTHENING THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY THE TRANSFER OF SOME STAFF FROM THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

+THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND HIS BRANCH AND PLANNING UNIT WILL WORK IN THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE COLLABORATION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS AND WITH THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT WHETHER THE URBAN AREA OR THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.

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