XN000022-1993-10-11 — Page 4

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1993

THIS WILL INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF 16 SURVEILLANCE AND 10 ELECTRONIC DISPLAY BOARDS ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND THE OF A BETTER VEHICLE TOWING SERVICE.

CAMERAS PROVISION

ON ROAD EXCAVATION AS A CAUSE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION, MR SAID: "AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL GROUP IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING MEASURES ΤΟ CUT DOWN TRAFFIC DELAY AND DISRUPTION CAUSED EXCAVATION.

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BARMA

VARIOUS ROAD

BY

OF OPEN OVER

THE OPTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE THE DECKING TRENCHES WHEN WORK IS NOT BEING CARRIED OUT, TIGHTER CONTROL EMERGENCY ROAD EXCAVATIONS, PENALTY CHARGES ON DELAYED WORKS, IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION WITH UTILITY COMPANIES AND THE USE OF SPECIALIST UTILITY CONTRACTORS WELL VERSED IN THE LATEST ROAD EXCAVATION TECHNOLOGY.

BARMA OPEN TWO

ON THE INCREASE IN CROSS-BORDER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, MR SAID: "WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ΤΟ MORE LANES AT LOK MA CHAU ON FEBRUARY 1, 1994. THIS WILL INCREASE CAPACITY TO HANDLE CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC BY 2,700 VEHICLES A DAY."

TO

THE

HE

SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS CHINESE SIDE TO OPEN THE LOK MA CHAU BORDER-CROSSING ROUND-THE-CLOCK.

THE

"THIS WILL HELP SPREAD THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND RELIEVE DURING PEAK HOURS, HE ADDED.

CONGESTION

MID-LEVELS ESCALATORS

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ESCALATOR SYSTEM BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AND MID-LEVELS WILL START ITS TRIAL PERIOD FROM 6 AM ON FRIDAY (OCTOBER 15) AND NOT TODAY AS REPORTED IN AN ENGLISH NEWSPAPER.

DURING THIS TRIAL PERIOD, PEOPLE MAY MAKE USE OF THE ESCALATORS WHICH WILL OPERATE BETWEEN 6 AM AND 10 PM DAILY UNDER A TIDAL FLOW SCHEME CARRYING PEDESTRIANS DOWNHILL FROM 6 AM TO 10 AM AND UPHILL FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM.

THE SYSTEM WILL BE SWITCHED OFF FOR THE REMAINING HOURS OF THE DAY WHEN PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED TO BE LOW. DETAILS OF THE SYSTEM'S OPERATION AND ITS FULL OPENING WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS WEEK.

REFERRING TO OTHER POINTS IN THE PRESS REPORT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS NEITHER TRUE NOR FAIR TO SUGGEST THAT THE COST OF THE SCHEME HAD GONE UP MORE THAN SIX TIMES OF THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND THE OPENING DATE WAS NINE MONTHS BEHIND SCHEDULE.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 1991 AFTER THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED $204.6 MILLION (AT DECEMBER 1990 PRICES) FOR THE PROJECT.

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