XN000022-1982-04-14 — Page 14

13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1982

* THE WORD +RASHLY+ WAS REPLACED BY +RECKLESSLY+, WHICH IS A TERM MORE COMMONLY USED IN A LEGAL CONTEXT.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE PROPOSED 116 REGULATIONS TO BE MADE UNDER THE NEW ORDINANCE WOULD NO DOUBT GIVE AMPLE POWER THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KCR TO RUN THE RAILWAY EFFICIENTLY.

*WE HAVE MADE CERTAIN HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, AND THE GOVERNMUN- HAS AGREED TO RE-DRAFT SOME 25 REGULATIONS,+ MR WONG SAID.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL, MR BENTON CHEUNG, CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE +WELL-LOCATED AND USEFUL PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, OR PERHAPS EVEN ESCALATORS+ ALONG THE RAILWAY LINE.

HE SAID THAT AS FAR AS HE COULD REMEMBER, CROSSING RAILWAY TRACKS HAD BEEN A PRACTICE OF COUNTRYFOLK AND THEIR LIVESTOCK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

WHILE AGREEING THAT THE ELECTRIFIED SYSTEM WOULD MAKE THIS PRACTICE A THING OF THE PAST AND THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD NETWORKS AND SUPER HIGHWAYS WOULD ALSO CHANGE THE OLD WAY OF LIFE FOREVER, MR CHEUNG URGED THAT PENDING COMPLETION OF ALL THESE FACILITIES, +CONSIDERATION MUST BE GIVEN TO THE REALITIES OF THE ESTABLISHED PRACTICES AND WAY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

HE ALSO DREW MEMBERS' ATTENTION TO A SIX-MILE-LONG LIGHT RAIL SERVICE WHICH WAS ONCE OPERATED BY THE KCR BETWEEN FANLING AND SHA TAU KOK.

THE LIGHT RAIL ROUTE HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A MOTORWAY BUT IT IS NOW IN NEED OF WIDENING AND REDEVELOPMENT TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH OTHER MODERN ROAD PROJECTS, HE SAID.

+A MODERNISED FANLING-SHA TAU KOK HIGHWAY WOULD BE VERY TIMELY IN THE CONTEXT OF RECENT REPORTS THAT SIU MUI SHA AND SHA YU CHUNG ACROSS THE BORDER WITH CHINA, MAY BE AREAS OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

+A MODERN HIGHWAY SYSTEM TO SHA TAU KOK COULD BE EXTENDED EVENTUALLY TO PROVIDE A THROUGH MOTOR ROUTE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE EASTERN GUANGDONG PROVINCE, AS WELL AS PLACES, 'MORE FAR',+ SAID MR CHEUNG.

THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE ERE +GREAT DRAFTING BATTLES OVER THIS MODEST BILL+,

+THAT WAS NOT IN FACT THE CASE, T WE ARE AS ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE DILIGENCE WHICH THE NOFFICIAL MEMBERS' LEGISLATION SCRUTINY GROUP APPLIES TO ITS TASK, + HE SAID.

↓

HE INFORMED MEMBERS THAT A SEPARATE BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE INCORPORATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WOULD BE

INTRODUCED LATER THIS YEAR.

/14