TNAG-1729-FCO40-2442-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 234

6

01

Supplementary Question No. 9 in Leeco Meeting on 27.4.88

MRS. CHOW: Sir, does the MTRC recognise the main reason

for public discontent is not SO

much

has

the lack

of understanding, as the Secretary put it, but the belief

that the MTRC has not exhausted all other methods to

achieve the intended purpose before resorting to a

fiscal and what some regard as punitive measure on passengers

the

who have to travel during congestion period? For instance,

how did the MTR management came to the conclusion that

reducing non-peak fares is not a practical or acceptable

solution without trying it first?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT:

Sir, the MTRC fully understands

the public sentiments on this matter and certainly recog-

nises that apart from the lack of understanding of the

proposal there is discontent about the nature of the

congestion fare. It has looked at all the possibilities

of relieving overcrowding. For instance, trains at present

are running a total of eight cars

and

this

is the maximum allowed because of the design of the station.

If you add a ninth car, the passengers cannot land on

the platform and they cannot escape in case of emergencies.

Frequencies are run to two minutes, which is the maximum

now possible. If you close some stations, you will be

blocking all passengers regardless of whoever is going to

7