XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

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SINCE THERE WAS PRACTICALLY NO COMPETITIVE MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE LRT AREA, ITS SERVICE SCHEDULES SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER, OR ELSE THERE WOULD BE A TOTAL ABSENCE OF A REGULATING MECHANISM.

MR LEE QUOTED THE RESIDENTS AS SUGGESTING THAT IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE DESIRABLE IF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE APPROVAL.

TURNING TO THE PROBLEM OF NOISE, MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL PROVIDED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LRT PROJECT WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RELEVANT ORDINANCE CONCERNING NOISE ABATEMENT.

+1N VIEW OF THIS, THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD RELEASE THE ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE CONSTRUCTION WORK AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT SO THAT RESIDENTS IN THE VICINITY WOULD HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF NOISE POLLUTION AND THAT UNDUE WORRIES WOULD NOT BE ROUSED, HE SAID.

LASTLY, HE URGED AUTHORITIES TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO ROAD SAFETY AND BUILD MORE FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS TO MINIMISE THE OCCURRENCE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN AREAS WHICH THE LRT ROUTES PASSED THROUGH.

REVOCATION BY LEGISLATION SETS 'DANGEROUS PRECEDENT'

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT BY UNILATERALLY AMENDING THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BY WAY OF LEGISLATION, THE HON RICHARD LAI TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, MR LAI SAID THE REVOCATION OF KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY'S PRIVILEGES TO RUN INTERNAL ROUTES IN THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SERVICE AREA (TSA) MIGHT DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IT MIGHT ALSO UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.

HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY, UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR THAT SUCH A MEASURE WOULD NOT BE REGULARLY EMPLOYED FOR THE SAKE OF EXPEDIENCE.

/ON THE