XN000022-1994-02-02 — Page 26

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

"PAPERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED SEEKING FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVAL THIS FRIDAY FOR A FURTHER $328 MILLION (MOD) FOR ADVANCE WORKS TO PROTECT THE RAILWAY ALIGNMENT, SO AS TO MINIMISE INCREASE IN COSTS FOR THE PROJECT AND AVOID DISRUPTION TO ACP WORKS ALONG THE RAILWAY ROUTE."

THE AIRPORT RAILWAY WILL PROVIDE TWO SERVICES: A FAST DIRECT SERVICE TO THE AIRPORT; AND A DOMESTIC SERVICE FROM HONG KONG CENTRAL TO TUNG CHUNG VIA TSING YI.

MR BARMA SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED THE OPTION OF CONSTRUCTING THE CENTRAL-TSING YI SECTION FIRST, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THIS SECTION ALONE WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE RATE OF RETURN SINCE THE BULK OF PASSENGERS WOULD BE DRAWN FROM THE EXISTING TSUEN WAN

LINE.

"AS

SUCH THE MTRC WOULD FACE TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTY IN RAISING LOANS WITHOUT AGREEMENT FROM THE CHINESE FOR THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL PACKAGE.

г

"WE, THEREFORE, BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD AT THIS STAGE STILL TO REACH AN EARLY AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON THE AIRPORT RAILWAY AS A WHOLE.“

IS

MR BARMA SAID: "THERE ARE GOOD PROSPECTS, PROVIDED AGREEMENT IS REACHED SOON, FOR THE KOWLOON TO CHEP LAP KOK SECTION TO BE COMPLETED WHEN THE AIRPORT ITSELF IS READY FOR OPERATION.

"HOWEVER, SHOULD A DELAY OCCUR, ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD INCLUDE THE ENHANCEMENT OF BUS AND FERRY SERVICES, AND OTHER TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES, SO AS TO MEET PASSENGER DEMAND."

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AIRPORT FACILITIES UNDERGO IMPROVEMENT

* * *

A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT TO FACILITIES AT KAI TAK HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN AS THE AIRPORT REACHES ITS DESIGN CAPACITY OF 24 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.

SERVICES,

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TIMOTHY HA 'IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PARKING

SINCE 1988, NEARLY $3 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT ON REFURBISHMENT OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL, EXTENSIONS TO THE APRON AND AIRCRAFT BAYS, AND OTHER TRANSPORT FACILITIES, SHE ADDED.

THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TERMINAL APPROACH ROADS AND ROAD TRAFFIC CIRCULATION. THE AIRSIDE DEPARTURE LOUNGES WILL ALSO BE SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED.

"EVERY ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO MAXIMISE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATISATION OF AIRPORT SERVICES, " SHE SAID.

EXAMPLES ARE CARGO AND BAGGAGE HANDLING SERVICES, AIRPORT CAR PARKS, CLEANING, CATERING AND RETAIL BUSINESSES.

/THE AIRPORT