XN000022-1985-05-29 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985

SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL DECISION BY YEAR END

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INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL WOULD SHORTLY BE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND A FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON IAN MACPHERSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG REGARDING GOVERNMENT'S DECISION ON THE SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL, MR MACPHERSON SAID THAT LAST OCTOBER, FOLLOWING A STUDY OF THREE POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS, GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR PROPOSALS TO FINANCE, CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE A SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR ROAD TUNNEL FROM QUARRY BAY TO CHA KWO LING.

+THE REQUIREMENT WAS FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO TRAFFIC LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, BUT IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THIS WAS NOT TO BE RESTRICTIVE AND THAT PROPOSALS FOR JOINT ROAD AND RAIL TUNNELS WOULD, FOR EXAMPLE, BE CONSIDERED, MR MACPHERSON SAID.

THERE WAS A TRULY INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE+ FROM NINE CONSORTIUMS REPRESENTING AUSTRALIAN, BRITISH, CHINESE, DUTCH, FRENCH, HONG KONG AND JAPANESE INTERESTS WHICH SUBMITTED PROPOSALS ON APRIL 1,

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THIS RESPONSE, HE SAID SHOWED A VERY ENCOURAGING CONF IDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG+.

MANY OF THE CONSORTIUMS HAD SHOWN INTEREST IN PROVIDING AN MTR AS WELL AS A ROAD TUNNEL, HE SAID.

THESE PROPOSALS WERE BEING CONSIDERED BY A STEERING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, WITH MEMBERS FROM ALL INTERESTED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+CONSULTANTS HAVE ALSO BEEN RETAINED TO ADVISE ON SOME OF THE COMPLEX FINANCIAL ISSUES,+ MR MACPHERSON SAID.

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