XN000022-1994-01-13 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1994

GOVERNOR IN LEGCO

FOLLOWING IS THE STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THE ᎡᎢ HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

IN MY POLICY ADDRESS, I SAID THAT ONE OF OUR MAIN PRIORITIES MUST BE TO KEEP HONG KONG'S TRAFFIC MOVING. THIS IS, OF COURSE, VITAL TO OUR ECONOMY AND TO PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD. PARADOXICALLY, IT IS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INCREASING PERSONAL WEALTH THAT ARE PLACING OUR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE. WE ARE THE VICTIMS OF OUR OWN SUCCESS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THAT 90% OF THE TEN MILLION PASSENGER TRIPS MADE IN THE TERRITORY EACH DAY ARE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT. LEVELS OF PRIVATE CAR OWNERSHIP ARE LOW COMPARED WITH OTHER PLACES. WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT, TAKEN OVERALL, OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FUNCTIONS EFFICIENTLY, OFFERS A WIDE CHOICE TO TRAVELLERS AT REASONABLE FARES, AND REQUIRES NO DIRECT PUBLIC SUBSIDY. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN AFFORD TO BE COMPLACENT. BUT WE CAN JUSTIFIABLY BE PROUD OF TRANSPORT

FACILITIES WHICH ARE THE ENVY OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN ASIA AND

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF INCREASING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, WE WILL BE KEEPING THE TRAFFIC MOVING IN THREE WAYS:

(A)

(B)

(C)

FIRST, WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE $9 BILLION IS TO BE SPENT NEXT YEAR COMPARED WITH $7 BILLION THIS YEAR AND $4 BILLION LAST;

WE

SECOND,

WILL PROMOTE THE EXPANSION AND UPGRADING OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES TO MEET RISING PUBLIC ASPIRATIONS - AND HERE I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THE FUTURE EXTENSION OF THE RAIL SYSTEM WHICH HAS SUCH OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES IN HONG KONG'S CROWDED ENVIRONMENT AS EFFICIENT, NON-POLLUTING MOVER OF PEOPLE; AND

AN

THIRD, WE WILL IMPROVE ROAD MANAGEMENT SO AS TO DERIVE THE MAXIMUM RETURN FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PROGRAMME FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH CONTINUING ΤΟ IMPLEMENT AND UPGRADE COMPUTERISED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. THESE HAVE IMPROVED THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN SOME AREAS BY UP то 30%.

/IN HONG