XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

NO INTENTION TO EXTEND LRT TRANSIT SERVICE AREA

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON HARNAM GREWAL, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY HAS NO INTENTION OF EXTENDING THE NORTHWEST TRANSIT SERVICE AREA DESIGNATED FOR THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM TO COVER OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.

MR GREWAL WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHEN WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IN PARTICULAR THE HON

HE THANKED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS

HU FA-KUANG AND MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO LIMIT THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT (LRT) SYSTEM TO 20 YEARS WITH PROVISION FOR FURTHER EXTENSION BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MR GREWAL SAID THE SYSTEM MUST BE GIVEN A REASONABLE PERIOD TO ESTABLISH ITS VIABILITY BEFORE THE PROTECTIVE MEASURES WERE REVIEWED.

HE SAID AS PHASE ONE OF THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE UNTIL 1988 AND OTHER PHASES WERE STILL UNDER PLANNING, THE FULL LRT SYSTEM MIGHT IN FACT ENJOY RATHER LESS THAN 20 YEARS' PROTECTION UNLESS THE PERIOD WAS EXTENDED PROPRTIONATELY TO COVER LATER PHASES OF THE SYSTEM BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+THIS POINT WILL NEED TO BE BORNE IN MIND IN ANY FUTURE REVIEW OF THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA, HE SAID.

MR GREWAL AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE IF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY COULD REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (KCRC) TO OPERATE LRT FEEDER BUS SERVICES IN THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA ON A CONTRACTUAL BASIS.

BUT HE STRESSED THAT THE PROVISION WHICH EMPOWERED THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO AMEND, WITH OR WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE GRANTEE, A FRANCHISE UNDER THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE WAS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA.

HE ADDED THAT THE BILL PROVIDED FOR COMPENSATION TO BE PAID ON A FULL AND FAIR BASIS SHOULD SUCH AN AMENDMENT RESULT IN PECUNIARY LOSS OR DAMAGE TO THE GRANTEE CONCERNED.

/MR GREWAL