XN000022-1985-07-23 — Page 3

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1985

1

* AS THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AND NEW ROADS

IN KWUN TONG BECOME CONGESTED IN THE MID TO LATE 1990S THE MTR WILL PROVIDE AN INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO BUSES;

* ECONOMIES WILL BE ACHIEVED IN BUILDING A

ROAD-RAIL TUNNEL COMPARED WITH A POSSIBLE SUBSEQUENT SEPARATE RAIL TUNNEL;

* IN THE NEAR TERM ANY NEW MTR STATION AT

CHA KWO LING WOULD PROVIDE A VERY SUITABLE INTERCHANGE STATION FOR FEEDER BUS SERVICES TO THE MTR FROM JUNK BAY AND POSSIBLY THE NORTHEAST NEW TERRITORIES

AND

* PASSENGERS FROM KWUN TONG AND THE EASTERN

DISTRICT WILL BE OFFERED AN IMPROVED CHOICE OF TRANSPORT MODES ACROSS THE HARBOUR INCLUDING BOTH RAIL AND BUS SERVICES THROUGH THE EASTERN HARBOUR TUNNEL.

ALL THE PROPOSALS PRESENTED WERE SUBJECTED TO DETAILED ASSESSMENT BY THREE SEPARATE TERMS ON THEIR ENGINEERING, OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS. THESE TERMS WERE ASSISTED BY INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RAIL OPTION WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE MTRC.

FOLLOWING THIS CAREFUL SCREENING THE ASSESSMENT REPORTS WERE SCRUTINISED BY A STEERING GROUP.

MR MACPHERSON SAID: +AS IN ANY COMPETITION, THE PROCESS OF ASSESSMENT DETERMINED THAT SOME PROPOSALS WERE CLEARLY SUPERIOR.+

THE TRANSPORT BRANCH, HE SAID, WOULD NOW CONCENTRATE ON DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CONSORTIA WHO SUBMITTED THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PROPOSALS.

24 BILLS FOR LEGCO MEETING

****

TWENTY-FOUR BILLS, EIGHT QUESTIONS AND TWO MOTIONS WILL BE AMONG MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.

OF THE 24 BILLS, 16 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY ARE:

* DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985; * SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (1984-85) BILL 1985;

SUPRIME