XN000022-1992-02-12 — Page 3

1

2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1992

+

"THE SETTING IS CERTAINLY IMPRESSIVE.

WHEN THE DOORS OPEN TO THE FIRST STUDENTS IN SEPTEMBER, THE COLLEGE WILL OFFER ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST ATTRACTIVE CAMPUSES, EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION," SIR DAVID SAID.

THE GOVERNOR CONGRATULATED SIR JACK CATER, MR S T LI, THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SIR Q W LEE ON THEIR DETERMINATION TO SEE THEIR VISION BECOME A REALITY.

0

NO DECISION YET ON KOWLOON SKYRAIL

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN

TODAY

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A (WEDNESDAY) SAID IT WAS NOT TRUE, AS RECENTLY SPECULATED, THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED AND WAS READY TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR AN ELEVATED LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM FOR KOWLOON AS PROPOSED BY THE KOWLOON SKY RAIL: COMPANY.

THE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT AFTER INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPANY LAST YEAR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD DECIDED IN JULY LAST YEAR THAT THE CONCEPT OF BUILDING AN ELEVATED LIGHT-RAIL SYSTEM IN KOWLOON SHOULD BE SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANY PARTICULARLY ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE SCHEME.

THIS DECISION DID NOT AMOUNT TO APPROVAL TO BUILD THE SYSTEM.

"WRITTEN QUESTIONS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT ΤΟ THE COMPANY TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION. THE COMPANY HAS RECENTLY RESPONDED TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, AND HAS PROVIDED IDEAS FOR CONDUCTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

P

"THE COMPANY WILL HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEIR SCHEME WILL BE ABLE TO SATISFY ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER CONCERNS.

"MUCH MORE MATERIAL IS EXPECTED FROM THE COMPANY PARTICULARLY ON THE ALIGNMENT AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE SCHEME BEFORE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE MADE ON WHETHER OR NOT DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE ENTERED INTO WITH THE COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF SUCH A SYSTEM.

rt

"SUGGESTIONS OF A FAST TRACK APPROVAL PROCESS WHICH WILL SEE CONSTRUCTION START IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS' TIME ARE UNREALISTIC, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

0

/3