XN000022-1993-05-04 — Page 7

TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1993

THE ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE CONSTRAINTS IN NOT IMPOSING ANY PRE-CONDITIONS.

PRACTICAL

NEVERTHELESS,

THEY AGREED TO CONSIDER REDUCING FROM FIVE ΤΟ THREE YEARS THE PERIOD FOR WHICH A TENANT MUST PAY HIGHER RENTAL IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SPECIAL PRIORITY IN THE PURCHASE OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS.

MEMBERS

HAVING TAKEN ALL RELEVANT FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION, FORMED THE VIEW THAT THE MODIFIED PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.

THE JOINT GROUP HAS BEEN DULY INFORMED OF MEMBERS' POSITION,

0

ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT TO SUSTAIN GROWTH

* * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (TUESDAY) REAFFIRMED GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN THE GROWTH OF HONG KONG AND TO ENHANCE ITS ROLE AS A BUSINESS CENTRE AND MAJOR ENTREPOT IN THE REGION.

MR

SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON RAILWAY DEVELOPMENTS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, LEUNG SAID FREIGHT MOVEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA BY ROAD ARE INCREASING BY AN AVERAGE OF 18 PER CENT PER ANNUM, OR FROM 5.4 MILLION TONNES IN 1987 TO ABOUT 12.2 MILLION TONNES IN 1992.

TO COPE WITH THIS DEMAND, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR BORDER CROSSINGS BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND OPERATING HOURS.

"GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO RECENTLY INVITED THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN BUILDING THE ROUTE 3 COUNTRY PARK SECTION UNDER A FRANCHISE ARRANGEMENT. WHEN COMPLETED, THIS DUAL THREE-LANE ROAD WILL GREATLY IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CROSSING POINTS AND THE CONTAINER PORT, HE SAID.

MR LEUNG SAID DESPITE THE ENORMOUS INCREASE IN FREIGHT MOVEMENT, THE PROPORTION OF FREIGHT TRANSPORTED BY RAIL HAD REDUCED, PARTLY BECAUSE OF CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS OF THE KORC MAIN LINE AND ITS FREIGHT YARDS.

RAIL NOW TAKES A 10 PER CENT SHARE OF THE TOTAL FREIGHT TRIPS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, DECLINING FROM A 20 PER CENT SHARE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

то HELP INCREASE FREIGHT HANDLING ABILITY OF THE KCRC IN THE MEDIUM TERM, MR LEUNG SAID A FIVE-HECTARE SITE ON THE HUNG · HOM BAY RECLAMATION WOULD BE GRANTED TO THE CORPORATION FOR EXPANSION OF ITS EXISTING MAIN YARD, THIS WILL RAISE FREIGHT CAPACITY BY 140 WAGONS PER DAY.

/"THE ABILITY