XN000022-1983-01-21 — Page 12

FRIE

JANUARY 21, 1983

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TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY THAT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND KOWLOON WHARF AND GODOWN WITH REGARD TO DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM HAD NOT RESULTED IN A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE SET OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEING ACHIEVED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES. THIS POSITION WAS REACHED ON JANUARY 7.

MR SCOTT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT GREATLY REGRETTED THIS OUTCOME TO THE COMPLEX NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE COMPANY, IT DID NOT AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH THE LRT, WHICH IS THE PRINCIPAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF TUEN MUN,

→VERY RECENT STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE LRT OPERATION IS IN ITSELF FINANCIALLY VIABLE, HE SAID.

+PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS ARE SUFFICIENTLY FAR AHEAD FOR IT TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY 1987, WHICH WILL BE SATISFACTORY TIMING IN RELATION TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN,+ HE ADDED.

MR SCOTT SAID PLANNING HAD FROM THE BEGINNING PROVIDED FOR AN INTER IM BUS SERVICE, UP TO THE DATE AT WHICH THE LRT BEGINS OPERATION, AND THESE PLANS WERE NOT AFFECTED.

HE CONFIRMED THAT DISCUSSIONS HAD ALREADY BEGUN WITH OTHER GROUPS INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT.

ROAD SECTION TO BE WIDENED

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AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANS TO WIDEN AND REALIGN A SECTION OF LUNG MUN ROAD BETWEEN PAK KOK AND BUTTERFLY BEACH IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE TOWN.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AND IMPROVE VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO EXISTING AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.

A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE: THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, TUEN MUN BUILDING, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN.

ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSAL MUST SEND HIS WRITTEN OBJECTION TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WITHIN 60 DAYS.

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