TNAG-0768-FCO40-972-Supplies-of-electrical-power-for-Hong-Kong-Castle-Peak-power-1978 — Page 101

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D

XCC(77)58

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Unfortunately this has been shown to be impracticable and is now accepted as such by the Company. A note by PWD is attached at Annex C. Its implications are that the cost of a two-lane road tunnel, even subtracting $100 million for the Company's contribution, is likely to be as great or greater than that of a 4-lane bridge capable of expansion to 6 lanes. But a two-lane tunnel could not carry the traffic that Lantau is expected to generate, so even if the Government first constructed the tunnel it would subsequently have to build a bridge as well. The Company therefore accepts that arrangements to carry transmission lines from Lantau to the mainland must be made by itself, independently of whatever the Government will do about road access. It will probably do this by means of 2 x 10' bored tunnels.

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The Company also accepts that, since a bridge and its accompanying access roads could not be built before the station is commissioned, the Company will in any case have to make its own interim arrangements for ferry access and perhaps also staff housing. It does however feel it is entitled to some assurance that a bridge will be built as soon as is practicable.

A Bridge

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In 1973 Messrs Wilbur Smith produced an extensive general report (a summary of which is at Annex D) on the development potential of Lantau, the various types of road access that could be built, and their alignments. The proposed solution was a bridge from Lantau to Ma Wan to Tsing I. It concluded that the Government might expect an ample return from land sales and tolls from its investment in a bridge. The recession then intervened. In replying to Members' criticism of lack of land for development, in concluding the debate on the Appropriation Bill 1977 the Financial Secretary stated that the Government was about to proceed with a further and more detailed feasibility study of land development on and road access to Lantau. But clearly the Government cannot say anything definite about the construction of road access until the study has been completed and considered by Honourable Members. The Company realises this, but seeks reassurance that subject to the results of the feasibility study a bridge or tunnel will be built. ̈ ́

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The Government's view is that in due course the development of North Lantau with road access will be both necessary and extremely beneficial to Hong Kong in that it will provide the most important major remaining opportunity for the provision of substantial areas of develop- ment land and particularly land for industry. The complete development of the North of Lantau for industry and residence and the South for re- creation and tourism would be a very major project which Government could not consider except on the basis of a phased and carefully worked out plan. But its development can be divided into three parts:

C.S. 166

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