XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

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**THIS HAPPENED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VEHICLES WAS CONSTANT OVER THE PERIOD AND THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY. THE REASON WAS THAT THE NUMBER OF GOODS VEHICLES INCREASED BY OVER 30 PER CENT AND THE DISTANCE THEY TRAVELLED BY ALMOST 60 PER CENT, "SIR DAVID SAID.

BETWEEN 1982 AND 1986, HE ADDED, THE AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF PASSENGERS TRAVELLING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROSE BY 16 PER CENT TO 9.5 MILLION.

SIR DAVID SAID CONTINUED LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR NEW TRANSPORT FACILITITES AND THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO BUILD THEM WAS ESSENTIAL.

"FOR THIS REASON, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED A SECOND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY AT THE END OF LAST YEAR. TT WILL BR COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR AND WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PERIOD UP TO 2001, HE SAID.

Ir

SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEEK PUBLIC VIEWS ON ITS RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE MAJOR DECISIONS WERE TAKEN.

TURNING TO MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS THAT WERE IN HAND OR BEING PLANNED, SIR DAVID SAID THESE INCLUDED THE FINAL STAGES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD, THE TUNNEL TO JUNK BAY AND THE NEW ROUTE 5 FROM SHA TIN TO TSUEN WAN.

HE SAID WHEN THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION WAS LINKED WITH THE FUTURE KWUN TONG BYPASS AND THE PROPOSED TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL, BETWEEN SHA TIN AND DIAMOND HILL, IT WOULD PROVIDE A NEW TRUNK ROUTE BETWEEN THE NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES AND HONG KONG ISLAND.

PLANS WERE ALSO BRING DRAWN UP FOR ROUTE X, WHICH WOULD LINK THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES WITH THE URBAN AREA.

"WITHOUT COUNTING ROUTE X WE ARE PLANNING TO SPEND $5 BILLION ON HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS," HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NEW LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM WHICH WOULD OPEN IN AUGUST NEXT YEAR WOULD RE FOLLOWED AY FURTHER EXTENSIONS TO PROVIDE THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES WITH A MODERN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM SUFFICIENT TO MEET DEMAND UNTIL WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.

HE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE SECOND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY TEAM WAS NOW LOOKING AT THE VIABILITY OF PROVIDING A FIXED RAIL LINK BETWEEN THE MAIN URBAN AREA AND THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES.

THE DECISIONS TO BE TAKEN INCLUDED WHETHER TO START IT IN LONG OR TUEN MUN AND WHERE ITS DESTINATION SHOULD BE IN THE AREA. SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO MAKE A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF 1988.

YUEN URBAN

ON THIS

/THE GOVERNOR