XN000022-1986-07-16 — Page 37

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986

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ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT THE TOLLS SCHEDULE OF THE TUNNEL COULD ONLY BE VARIED BY AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION PROCEDURES IF FOUND NECESSARY.

THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC INTERESTS WERE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED, HE SAID.

+1 EXPECT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CAREFULLY ENFORCE AND MONITOR ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS LAID DOWN IN THE BILL,+ HE ADDED.

MR CHEONG-LEEN THEN URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT URBAN EXPANSION AT BOTH ENDS OF THE TUNNEL WOULD +IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF URBAN LIVING ENVIRONMENT, RATHER THAN CAUSING NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DUE TO SHORT-SIGHTED PLANNING STANDARDS AND SHORT-TERM BENEFITS ARISING FROM CUTTING THE WRONG CORNERS.+

MEANWHILE, THE HON POON CHI-FAI URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF A COMPOSITE INTERCHANGE ROAD NETWORK IN EAST KOWLOON AND TO CONSTRUCT AN ELEVATED ROAD ON THE WATERFRONT OF KWUN TONG TO MEET TRAFFIC DEMAND AFTER THE OPENING OF THE NEW TUNNEL.

+ THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD ALSO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR PUBLIC VEHICLES TO USE THE TUNNEL SO AS TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MAKE FULL USE OF IT, HE ADDED.

THANKING THE FOUR MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON HARNAM GREWAL, SAID A JOINT TRAFFIC STUDY HELD IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL COMPANY WAS PRESENTLY UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE THE TRAFFIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING FOR EAST KOWLOON.

WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR GREWAL SAID FROM THE TIME SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BEGAN TO BE GIVEN TO THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING IT WAS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE PROJECT COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ADD TO CONGESTION IN EAST KOWLOON, OTHERWISE IT WOULD DEFEAT THE OBJECT OF THE EXERCISE.

+ IT IS THE INTENTION THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE STUDY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE PLANNED AND CONSTRUCTED.+

IF NECESSARY, A KWUN TONG BYPASS WOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT NOT ONLY CONGESTION IN THE AREA WAS NOT INCREASED BUT AN OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC FLOWS WOULD BE ACHIEVED, HE SAID.

+THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO BUSES AND THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES ARE NOW CONSIDERING EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING ROUTES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR FIVE YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLANS, HE ADDED.

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