XN000022-1984-04-25 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1984

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SECOND TUNNEL MAY BE BEST SOLUTION, LEGCO TOLD

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A TUNNEL LINKING TAI KOO SHING AND CHA KWO LING APPEARED TO BE THE BEST LONG-TERM MEANS OF REDUCING CONGESTION IN THE CROSS- HARBOUR TUNNEL AND ON THE APPROACHES TO IT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON JUSTIN YUE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

BUT THIS WAS STILL A PRELIMINARY VIEW+, TO BE CONFIRMED BY DETAILED ASSESSMENTS NOW UNDERWAY OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL VIABILITIES OF THE VARIOUS OPTIONS, HE STRESSED.

+EVEN IF A FIRM DECISION COULD BE TAKEN LATER THIS YEAR TO CONSTRUCT A SECOND FIXED HARBOUR CROSSING, IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE, MR YUE SAID.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) BILL 1984, MR YUE EXPLAINED THAT PRESENT INDICATIONS WERE THAT THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED LEI YUE MUN BRIDGE WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME.

MR YUE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE SCOPE IN THE SHORT TERM FOR IMPROVING FURTHER THE EXISTING TUNNEL OPERATIONS AND THE TRAFFIC CONTROLS AROUND THE APPROACH ROADS AND EXITS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DAILY FLOW THROUGH THE TUNNEL REMAINED IN EXCESS OF 100 000 VEHICLES.

+THIS IS WELL ABOVE THE CARRYING CAPACITY THAT THE TUNNEL WAS DESIGNED FOR, HE SAID.

THE STEERING GROUP EXAMINING THE OPTIONS WAS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS AND WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

MR YUE SAID THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL WAS TO IMPOSE A TAX ON CERTAIN CLASSES OF VEHICLES TO REDUCE CROSS-HARBOUR CONGESTION.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OMNIBUSES, HE SAID, WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE TAX.

+ IN THIS WAY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC WHICH TRAVELS THROUGH THE TUNNEL ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD REMAIN UNAFFECTED AND SHOULD, AS A RESULT OF REDUCED CONGESTION, ENJOY SHORTER JOURNEY TIMES, HE SAID.

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE CHARGING OF DIFFERENT RATES OF TAX ON DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MOTOR VEHICLES USING THE TUNNEL.

THE HIGHER RATE OF TAX OF $5 WOULD APPLY TO PRIVATE CARS AND TAXIS WHICH TOGETHER ACCOUNT FOR 70 PER CENT OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

/GOODS VEHICLES