XN000022-1995-10-16 — Page 6

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Three priority projects for construction by 2001 have been identified:

* The Western Corridor Railway from the border to the West Kowloon and a spur line to Tuen Mun, with the possibility of an extension to Tuen Mun New town;

* An extension of the Mass Transit Railway to Tseung Kwan O, and

* A new rail link from Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Town Centre, coupled with an extension of the Kowloon Canton Railway from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui.

KCRC and MTRC have been invited to submit proposals for the first two projects while consultants will be engaged on the third project.

Mr Barma said following a recent public consultation exercise on ways of tackling traffic congestion, it had become clear that there was a strong public support for the introduction of the "user pays principle" to the use of the roads and the implementation of electronic road pricing (ERP).

"We are now planning an ERP feasibility study, to be followed by trial schemes and, if successful, the full implementation of an ERP system," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Barma said, the Government was considering the enactment of legislation to enable the Administration to raise annual licence fees on private cars on transport grounds, to introduce a passage tax at the Eastern Harbour Crossing and to remove the tax benefits currently enjoyed by company cars.

"We will consider implementing the first two measures if the growth of private cars significantly exceeds the acceptable level of two to three per cent a year.

"The latter measure will be implemented in the near future since it is no longer appropriate to offer any incentives that actually encourage the purchase of private cars," he said.

Mr Barma said the Government was doing all it could to address the traffic and transport problems faced by residents of the North West New Territories.

"In addition to the Western Corridor Railway, we are building the Route 3 (Country Park Section), which will relieve Tuen Mun Road, for completion by end 1998.

"We are also widening sections of Tuen Mun Road and Castle Peak Road.