XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 46

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

OPERATION OF AUTOTOLL SYSTEM

AND

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM KUI-SHING WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR HAIDER BARMA, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

A

QUESTION REGARDING THE OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM IN ROAD TUNNELS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :

(A) OF THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES USING THE SYSTEM IN THE PAST

TWO YEARS;

REPLY

(B)

OF THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM IN THE PAST TWO YEARS;

(C)

(D)

(E)

WHETHER MOTORISTS NOT USING THE SYSTEM ARE INCONVENIENCED BY THE REDUCTION IN TOLL LANES AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM;

ACCOUNT

WHETHER THERE IS ANY SURPLUS IN THE OPERATING OF THE SYSTEM; IF SO, WHETHER THE TUNNEL COMPANY CONCERNED WILL CONSIDER REDUCING THE MONTHLY FEES FOR USERS; IF NOT, WHY NOT; AND

OF THE NUMBER OF USERS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE BALANCE IN THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE OF THE SYSTEM?

A

MR PRESIDENT,

THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

(A)

HARBOUR AND AT END OF USABLE

THE AUTOTOLL SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED AT THE CROSS TUNNEL AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL ON 1 AUGUST 1993. THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ON 28 AUGUST 1994. BY THE OCTOBER 1994, 47,060 VEHICLE TAGS HAD BEEN ISSUED, AT ALL THREE TUNNELS, COMPARED WITH 23,790 TAGS AS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

(B)

COMPANY LTD THE COMPANY

THE SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE AUTOPASS WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE TUNNEL OPERATORS. IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM. FOR COMMERCIAL REASONS, IT IS NOT PREPARED TO DISCLOSE THE DETAILS OF ITS INCOME AND HOWEVER, THE COMPANY HAS ADVISED THAT IT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN THE AUTOTOLL WHICH IS STILL OPERATING AT A LOSS.

EXPENDITURE.

SYSTEM,

/(c) IN PERMITTING