XN000022-1987-03-17 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1987

HE SAID THE INCREASES HAD ALREADY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE REVISED CHARGE FOR WATER FROM CHINA ALONG WITH OTHER INCREASES IN OPERATING COSTS.

+IN DOLLAR TERMS THE MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE ADDED TO THEIR WATER BILLS AND THOSE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WILL BE HARDLY AFFECTED BY THE INCREASES,+ HE SAID.

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HE SAID SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING WOULD REMAIN FREE AND THE SAME QUANTITY OF FRESH WATER FOR FLUSHING - 30 UNITS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED FREE.

THE INCREASE WOULD NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS AS WATER CHARGES REPRESENTED A SMALL PART OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

EAST KOWLOON TRAFFIC STUDY PROPOSES KWUN TONG BYPASS

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THE JUST-COMPLETED EAST KOWLOON JOINT TRAFFIC STUDY HAS RECOMMENDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A KWUN TONG BYPASS TO MEET ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC DEMAND IN THE REGION, THE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT (KOWLOON), MR TSOH MING, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A PRESS BRIEFING AFTER THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD'S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE MEETING, MR TSOH SAID THE STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE LONG-TERM TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS IN THE EAST KOWLOON UP TO 1996 ARISING FROM THE PLANNED OPENING OF THREE NEW TUNNELS -- EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, JUNK BAY TUNNEL AND TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL.

+

+WITH THE ANTICIPATED OPENING OF THE THREE TUNNELS, THE PATTERN OF TRAFFIC FLOW IN EAST KOWLOON WILL CHANGE DRAMATICALLY,+ MR TSOH SAID.

+FINDINGS OF THE STUDY HAVE INDICATED THAT IN 1996, THE TOTAL PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC FLOW IN AND OUT OF THE REGION WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT AT PRESENT.

+THROUGH TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE SIX-FOLD, WITH AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 50 PER CENT IN TERMINATING TRIPS. BY 1996, TRAFFIC ENTERING EAST KOWLOON FROM THE THREE NEW TUNNELS IN THE 8 AM TO 9 AM PEAK HOUR WILL EXCEED 10 000 PASSENGER CAR UNITS.

/+THE EXISTING