XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

THE AMENDMENTS HAD RESULTED FROM CAREFUL SCRUTINY FOLLOWING EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC CONCERN, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THE KCRC HAD TOLD THE ADMINISTRATION IT WAS RECONSIDERING THE VIABILITY OF FUTURE PLANS TO EXTEND THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, AS WELL AS INDICATING IT WOULD CLAIM COMPENSATION, IN THE LIGHT OF THE LIMITATION THE AMENDMENTS WOULD IMPOSE ON ITS FRANCHISE.

J

HE FELT THAT THE KCRC STATEMENT IT WOULD RECONSIDER ALL FUTURE EXPANSION PROGRAMMES IN VIEW OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AMOUNTED TO INTIMIDATION OF COUNCILLORS,

MR TAI FELT THAT ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL ASPECT ARISING OUT OF SUCH A STATEMENT WAS WHETHER THE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE WITHIN THE POWER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+ IF THE BILL REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGCO, THEN KCRC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT ANY AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND KCRC WOULD BE A CONDITIONAL AGREEMENT AND IT WOULD BE CONDITIONAL UPON APPROVAL BY THE LEGCO THROUGH PROPER LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE,+ HE SAID.

MR TAI ALSO REFERRED TO CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARDS ABOUT THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT.

HE SAID THE PUBLIC WAS WORRIED THAT THE POWER THE KCRC WOULD ENJOY THROUGH LEGISLATION WOULD RESULT IN LOWER QUALITY OF SERVICE AND HIGHER FARES.

THE TWO DISTRICT BOARDS HAD AGREED TO SET UP A JOINT MONITORING BODY TO MONITOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM AND ITS FEEDER BUSES.

IN ADDITION, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CLARIFY QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPENSATION FOR PEOPLE WHOSE BUSINESSES WERE AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM AND RELATED ROADWORKS.

MR TAI ADDED THAT BETTER MONITORING OF THE KCRC MANAGEMENT WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTS AND WELL-BEING OF THE PUBLIC WERE WELL PROTECTED.

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