TNAG-0322-FCO40-358-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 44

CONFIDENTIAL

For discussion

on 27th July 1971

XCC(71)39

Copy No..... of 32

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

HONG KONG MASS TRANSIT FURTHER STUDIES:

PROTECTION OF THE ROUTES

INTRODUCTION

On 4th February 1969, having considered memorandum XCC(69)8, Honourable Members advised and the Governor ordered that the need for a mass transit scheme was such as to justify the commissioning of the Government's Consultants to undertake further studies to enable a decision to be taken.

2

The Consultants were required to design an Initial System which, with later additions, would constitute a complete underground rail- way system either along the routes recommended in the original study or along such other routes as might be indicated by a revised assessment of traffic to fit in with the revised estimate of the population in the design year 1986. This system is referred to by the Consultants in their Final Report as the Freferred System. (For further details see paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Annex). The Consultants were asked to prepare civil, elec- trical and mechanical designs in sufficient detail to allow the preparation of reliable estimates of cost and revenue and for the location of routes and stations to be firmly determined. No cost limits for the project were im- posed on the Consultants for the purpose of these studies.

FINAL STUDIES REPORT

3

The Consultants began their further studies on 1st September 1969 and submitted their report, in five volumes; on schedule in August 1970. Volume I, which was tabled for the information of Honourable Members, as an attachment to memorandum XCR(70)393 on 16th December 1970, contains the report itself. The other four volumes contain detailed technical infor- mation and drawings which will be made available to any Honourable Member who wishes to study a particular aspect in detail.

4

A summary of the Consultants' recommendations, without comment, is annexed.

5

During the course of their further studies, the Consultants were in constant touch with the Government Departments concerned, principally the Public Works Department and the Transport Department and took advice from a Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Economic Secretary. This was to ensure that all reasonable route alternatives were examined and that full account was taken of local conditions particularly in relation to route location, land development and planning considerations so that the recommended system(s) would be located and equipped to a standard most suited to Hong Kong's needs and circumstances.

CONFIDENTIAL