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Transcript of the Governor's media session

Following is the transcript of the remarks by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, after officiating at the topping-out ceremony of the Land Development Corporation's Wing Lok Street Redevelopment this (Monday) afternoon:

Question: After this morning's meeting, Government officials told the KCRC people to limit the scope of the technical study. Is it a sign that the Government retreats on this project?

Governor: No, not remotely. Let's be absolutely clear what the issues are. Everybody knows that Hong Kong needs a more extensive rail network. People know that we need a dedicated freight line to the north. They know that we need better passenger services to the north. And they know above all, particularly if they live in the Northwest New Territories, that we need better rail connections between Tuen Mun and other parts of the New Territories and the centre of the community - the centre of our city. Everybody equally knows that that's going to be one of biggest and most expensive infrastructure projects this community takes on after the airport. What we want to do is to take the project forward in as cost-effective a way as possible and as rapidly as possible. All that we are talking about at this stage is the essential studies which are required in order to make us, in order to put us in a position next year or the SAR in a position in which it can actually take decisions so that the project can start in 1998. There's never been any question of the project starting next year. It will be for, I imagine, us but probably even more the SAR Government to make the decisions in late 1997 or the middle of 1997, but then the work we want to start in 1998. It's only a week or two ago that some people were saying that we were trying to go too rapidly on the project. Now some people are saying that we're going too slowly on the project. What we're actually trying to do is carry it forward as sensibly and as cost- effectively as possible. And that's what we'll continue to do. It's a big project. It's going to be a very expensive project. It involves a huge amount of land resumption which is going to take up a great deal of time and energy as well as money. What we want to see is the project goes forward, but it goes forward at the best price for the people of Hong Kong.

Question: Will the Government consult the Chinese side ...?

Governor: Well, we've been keeping the Chinese side informed and obviously we'll let the Preparatory Committee and others know what the proposals and the plans are. I don't think anybody should get too excited about this. I know perfectly well that the main decisions on an issue like this are going to be taken by the SAR Government, not by Chinese officials in Peking, not by the Governor of Hong Kong today. The main decisions are going to be taken by the Chief Executive and by the SAR. What I want to ensure is that the Chief Executive and the SAR are in the best position to take the most sensible decisions, and that's why we need to carry forward some studies now. but probably not as many as were originally thought.