XN000022-1996-01-31 — Page 66

47 -

Public transport services for new airport

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Haider Barma, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that the new Airport at Chek Lap Kok will be completed and inaugurated in April 1998, while the Airport Railway will not be ready until June of that year. In order to fill the two-month 'vacuum' period, the Government will make arrangements for the deployment of 180 buses to provide services to passengers. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

whether the Government has formulated any plan for such deployment; if so, what are the details;

what measures will be taken to ensure that such deployment will not affect normal public bus services; and

(c)

Reply:

Mr President,

whether consideration has been given to the adoption of effective measures which will enable the Airport Railway to be completed earlier to tie in with the inauguration of the new Airport?

The Administration commissioned the Transport Study for the New Airport (TRANSNA) in June 1995. The primary objective of TRANSNA is to develop a strategy for the provision of public transport services to the new airport and Lantau for the period from 1997 to 2006, having regard to passenger demand, financial viability, public acceptability and fare levels.

The Airport Railway will be an integral mode of the public transport system to the new airport. On the basis of the respective target opening dates of the new airport and the Airport Railway in April and June 1998, TRANSNA has identified that an additional 180 buses will be required to cater for the needs of air passengers.