C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL ## 機密
XCC(77)54
Copy No .. Page 17 of 18
of 80
48
The construction of the MIS has now gone on for over 18 months. Despite the inevitable disruptions, the public has so far expressed little open annoyance. They will, however, be anxious to see the job finished as quickly as possible and are more likely to accept a spreading of the inconvenience to a new corridor now rather than at a later stage.
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Any adverse public reaction is likely to centre more around the additional cost of the project than on other factors. Publicity should therefore be aimed at demolishing the myth that large amounts of public money will be involved. Emphasis should be placed on the fact that the extension will be finanched almost entirely from loans and that the relatively small addition to the Government's equity will be in respect of payments for Crown Land and rates only.
50
Any accusation of imprudence in extending an unproven
MIS could be countered by pointing to:
(a) the confirmation of the need for the MTR
provided in the CTS;
(b) the growing knowledge of the Corporation
of the best methods of construction;
(c)
the savings to be expected from employing contractors already engaged on the MIS works;
(d) the advantage of getting the general dislocation,
implicit in constructing a project of this size, over as soon as possible; and
(e) the benefits of embarking upon the extension, when
local and international finance is available on favourable terms.
Deferment of construction would mean that escalation would add to the overall cost of the system and make the eventual construction work more difficult and more disruptive.
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Publicity should stress that the construction of the MIS is still within the original cost estimates, that there is no reason to doubt that it will continue to remain within those estimates and
that it will be completed on time. Misgivings expressed by the public
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