XN000022-1982-10-06 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1982

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IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO PLACE NEW ARRIVALS IN CLOSED CAMPS. +OUR INTENTION IS TO DETER THOSE VIETNAMESE WHO PERSIST IN SEEKING ILLEGAL ENTRY TO HONG KONG.+

THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT HONG KONG NOW HAD 3 000 MORE REFUGEES THAN SIX MONTHS AGO, AND HE PRAISED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES FOR THE WAY THEY HAD RESPONDED IN MANAGING THE NEW CAMPS.

'CROSS HARBOUR BRIDGE LIKELY'

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THE NEXT MAJOR ROAD NETWORK PROJECT TO BE DECIDED ON IS THE SECOND FIXED CROSSING OF THE HARBOUR AND, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN TECHNICAL CONSTRAINTS CONNECTED WITH THE AIRPORT, THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A BRIDGE AT LEI YUE MUN, THE GOVERNOR, $IR EDWARD YOUDE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT MORE EMPHASIS WAS BEING PLACED ON MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE ROAD NETWORK TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, PARTICULARLY RAIL SERVICES, AND TO ENSURE THE MORE ECONOMICAL AND EFFICIENT USE OF THE ROAD NETWORK.

THE SIZE OF THE TRANSPORT PROGRAMME, HE SAID, REFLECTED THE NEED TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR NEARLY EIGHT MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS DAILY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND TO PROVIDE FOR OVER 340 000 VEHICLES TO MOVE AROUND HONG KONG'S ROAD NETWORK.

SIR EDWARD SAID IMPROVEMENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR HAVE INCLUDED THE PARTIAL OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL AND THE AIRPORT TUNNEL.

+EARLY IN 1983 THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY WILL BE FULLY OPERATIONAL WITH DUAL THREE-LANE OPERATION, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD ALSO SAID WORK WAS CONTINUING ON THE MAJOR TRUNK ROUTES, THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE SHA TIN-TAI PO COASTAL ROAD AND THE REMAINING STRETCHES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD.

+THE STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR INVESTMENT COMMITMENT AS NEW PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE LINK BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN, COMMENCE, HE ADDED.

ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HE SAID THE GROWTH IN CAPACITY IN 1982 HAD BEEN PERHAPS THE GREATEST SO FAR ACHIEVED.

THE MODERNISED AND ELECTRIFIED KCR OPENED ITS INNER SUBURBAN SERVICE FROM HUNG HOM TO SHA TIN IN MAY, HE SAID, AND THE OUTER SUBURBAN SERVICE TO LO WU WILL BE COMMISSIONED IN LATE 1983.

SIR EDWARD SAID FACILITIES AT THE NEW LO WU STATION, NOW BEING BUILT, WILL BE UPGRADED TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER.

/+DISCUSSIONS ARE .....