XN000022-1994-01-13 — Page 6

5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1994

MR MARVIN CHEUNG: SIR, IN THE LIGHT OF THE SEVERE CONGESTION IN THE EXISTING MTR SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE NATHAN ROAD SECTION, WHEN, IN THE OPINION OF THE GOVERNMENT, IS THE FINAL DATE BEYOND WHICH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MTR ROUTE ALONG THE WESTERN SECTION OF KOWLOON PENINSULAR CANNOT BE DEFERRED WITHOUT JEOPARDISING THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGERS USING THE NATHAN ROAD SECTION OF THE MTR LINE?

BUT

GOVERNOR: I WANT TO SEE US ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE RAILWAY SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE BUILDING OF THE NEW AIRPORT AS

QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE HONOURABLE MEMBER IS QUITE RIGHT IN SAYING THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAILWAY WILL NOT ONLY SECURE THE SORT OF ACCESS WHICH ANY MODERN CITY SHOULD WANT TO A NEW AIRPORT,

WILL ALSO RELIEVE CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE. AND I THINK THAT THE IMPACT ON THE NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR OF THE LOOSELY DESCRIBED *AIRPORT RAILWAY' IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT SIDE EFFECTS, BENEFICIAL SIDE EFFECTS, OF THAT INVESTMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE LOOKED, AS AN ADMINISTRATION, AT WHETHER THERE IS A CASE FOR HAVING A NUMBER OF BITES AT THE RAILWAY AND FOR INVESTING IN SMALLER PARTS OF THE OVERALL SCHEME BECAUSE OF THEIR LOCAL BENEFICIAL EFFECTS RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL WE CAN GET ON WITH THE WHOLE SCHEME. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK OUR JUDGMENT IS THAT то TAKE ONE PART OF THE SCHEME AT A TIME WOULD NOT MAKE VERY GOOD SENSE. DON'T THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE COULD JUSTIFY NATHAN ROAD RELIEF IN ECONOMIC OR IN OTHER TERMS AND USE THAT AS A REASON FOR JUST GOING AHEAD WITH THAT PART OF THE RAILWAY REGARDLESS OF OUR ABILITY TO LINK UP WITH THE AIRPORT, BUT WE WILL OBVIOUSLY KEEP THIS UNDER REVIEW.

WE CAN

I JUST REPEAT WHAT I SAID AT THE OUTSET. THE SOONER HAVE AN OVERALL AGREEMENT ON THE AIRPORT RAILWAY, AS ON THE AIRPORT ITSELF, THE BETTER. THE BETTER FOR HONG KONG TODAY AND THE BETTER FOR HONG KONG TOMORROW. THE BETTER, IF I MAY SAY SO WITHOUT BEING GUILTY OF LAIZE MAJESTE, THE BETTER FOR THE SAR GOVERNMENT IN DUE COURSE.

1

MR MOSES CHENG (THROUGH INTERPRETER): THANK YOU MR PRESIDENT, RECENTLY THE NUMBER OF CARS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN SOARING AND IN THE PAST THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTED FISCAL MEASURES TO SUPPRESS THE GROWTH OF VEHICLES BUT IT SHOWED THAT ONLY SHORT-TERM EFFECTS WERE ACHIEVED. NOW THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO CONSIDER FISCAL MEASURES AGAIN, LIKE TAXATION IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CARS. MR THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS IS ONLY A SHORT-TERM WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT STILL CONSIDER THIS KIND OF FISCAL

GOVERNOR,

SOLUTION. MEASURES?

GOVERNOR: THE HONOURABLE MEMBER HAS RAISED A QUESTION WHICH I GUESS WILL PROVOKE INCREASINGLY LIVELY, I WOULD USE THE ADJECTIVE ACRIMONIOUS DID I NOT HAVE AS MUCH RESPECT AS I DO FOR MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, INCREASINGLY LIVELY DEBATE IN THE YEARS AHEAD BECAUSE HONG KONG FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS IS GOING TO FACE BIGGER AND BIGGER PROBLEMS IN RELATION TO CAR OWNERSHIP.

/THE. LAST