XN000022-1996-07-03 — Page 27

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Government committed to building Western Corridor Railway

It is Government's firm intention to press ahead with the planning of the Western Corridor Railway (WCR) and strive for its early implementation.

The assurance was given by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Gordon Siu, in his reply on the motion debate moved by the Hon Ngan Kam-chuen in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday).

Mr Siu also disputed Council members that the Government had been delaying the construction of WCR and disregarding the traffic congestion problem faced by residents in the Northwest New Territories.

"In so doing we shall ensure that project progress and expenditure are stringently monitored and controlled and that the project is implemented in the most cost-effective manner," he said.

Mr Siu emphasised that WCR remained a priority project for Government.

"It is because we want to deal with the problems faced by residents in NW NT that we are pressing ahead with the necessary planning and preparatory work with a view to the project's implementation," he said.

End

Increase of fines in Companies Ordinance

Following is a speech by the acting Secretary for Financial Services, Mrs Lessie Wei Chui Kit-yee, in moving the resolution on the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to amend the Companies Ordinance relating to increase of fines in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the resolution standing in my name in the Order Paper.