XN000022-1982-12-22 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1982

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MAY ENHANCE KCR EFFICIENCY

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THERE IS NO COMPELLING REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REMAIN INDEFINITELY THE SOLE OWNER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION MAY ENHANCE THE CORPORATION'S EFFICIENCY, THE HON PETER C.WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION BILL 1982, WHICH WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS TODAY MR WONG DESCRIBED AS +WELCOME NEWS+ THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT'S RECENT INDICATION THAT AT SOME FUTURE DATE THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE PERMITTED TO OWN SHARES OF THE CORPORATION.

THE BILL IS PARTLY BASED ON THE EXISTING KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE AND ON THE MTR ORDINANCE, WITH CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT AS SOLE OWNER OF THE CORPORATION WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL POLICY CONTROLS ON FINANCIAL AND OTHER MATTERS, MR WONG POINTED OUT.

HE SAID THAT IN THIS RESPECT, THE BILL APPEARED TO REPRESENT A COMPROMISE, BALANCING THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPERATION OF THE CORPORATION ON PURELY COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES.

MR WONG SAID THE COUNCIL'S COMMUNITY SERVICES WORKING GROUP FELT THAT GOVERNMENT CONTROLS, WHILE DESIRABLE IN THE PUBLIC

INTEREST, SHOULD BE EXERCISED CAUTIOUSLY IN ORDER NOT TO HAMPER THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE CORPORATION ON COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES.

ON THE CORPORATION'S POWERS TO ENTER PRIVATE LAND, MR WONG SAID, THERE WAS SOME CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN CERTAIN CASES WITH REGARD TO DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT +ON BALANCE, WE ACCEPT THAT IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, THE PRIVATE LAND OWNER IS WELL PROTECTED AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE CORPORATION WOULD ABUSE ITS POWERS OR BEHAVE IN AN IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER, BEARING IN MIND THAT IT WILL BE WHOLLY OWNED BY GOVERNMENT.+

TWO OTHER UNOFFICIALS ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.

THE HON JOHN SWAINE SAID THAT THE PROPOSED KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WOULD BE WHOLLY-OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT TO REFLECT ITS NATURE AS A PUBLIC CORPORATION, THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE CORPORATION WHEN EXERCISING ITS POWERS, SHALL HAVE REGARD TO THE REASONABLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF HONG KONG, AND THE EFFICIENCY, ECONOMY AND SAFETY OF OPERATION OF ITS SERVICES AND FACILITIES.

/+THE CORPORATION'S