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are opened, it is doubtful whether demand can be met completely by

the service, as there will always be some persons whose requirements

cannot be catered for by this system. We are therefore examining

alternatives for those whose needs cannot be met by these arrangements.

(c) The Light Rail Transit (LRT) system has been designed to facilitate

travel for the disabled. All the LRT stops will have ramps for access.

The platform of LRT stops will be on a level with that of the Light

Rail vehicles so that there will be no need for passengers to climb

up or down when boarding or alighting from the vehicle. Space has

been reserved on each Light Rail vehicle for a wheel chair passenger.

As a safety measure to protect blind passengers, the texture of the

platform edge of LRT stops will be different from that of the platform

surface. Also, public address facilities will be provided at the

LRT stops.

(d) The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation has advised that it is difficult

to isolate the cost of providing the special facilities for the disabled

as they have been included in the design from the outset. Using

actual figures derived from the Central Registry of the Disabled

we know that over 3200 blind and physically disabled persons live

in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun. The total number of disabled persons

using the LRT could be much higher if we include visitors from other

districts and those blind and physically disabled living in the area,

but not known to the Central Registry.

(e) In view of the reply to (c) above, (e) does not apply.