XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

REFERRING TO THE IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL ON THE ENVIRONMENT, HE SAID ADEQUATE MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT WERE REDUCED то THE

MINIMUM.

HE SAID THE CONSORTIUM HAD AGREED THAT APPROPRIATE MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO AMELIORATE ANY VISUAL, AIR AND NOISE IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE TUNNEL.

SUFFICIENT MEASURES WOULD ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED TO PREVENT SOIL FROM BEING CARRIED INTO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE ADJACENT AREAS.

OBLIGATIONS WERE CONTAINED IN THE

DETAILS REGARDING THESE

PROJECT AGREEMENT.

MR LEUNG ALSO STRESSED THAT THE NEEDS OF ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE EXERCISE REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUNNEL WERK FULLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES AND COMPENSATION PACKAGES TO BE OFFERED.

HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED HAD TRIED THEIR BEST TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION AND INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT.

COMMENTING ON THE GUARANTEE AGREEMENTS MADE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CONSORTIUM, MR LEUNG EMPHASISED THAT THE PURPOSE WAS TO

LIMIT THE SIZE AND FREQUENCY OF ANY FUTURE TOLL INCREASES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE TOLL STRUCTURE COULD BE AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE LONGER TERM.

HE ADDED THAT A TOLL. INCREASE WOULD NOT BE GRANTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AS LONG AS THE TUNNEL COMPANY REMAINED REASONABLY REMUNERATIVE.

HE ALSO ASSURED MENDERS THAT THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE CONSORTIUM HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT AFTER VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

STRENGTH

UNDER

THE DECISION WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE FINANCIAL OF THE CONSORTIUM AND ITS ABILITY TO PERFORM THE OBLIGATIONS THE FRANCHISE REMAINED UNCHANGED AFTER THE RESTRUCTURING.

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