TNAG-1734-FCO40-2447-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 260

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Concluding Speech by The Hon. Michael Leung, jud. ye Secretary for Transport,

on the Tate's Cairn Tummer Bill 1983-

at Legislative Council en 29 June 1988

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT:

Sir,

I am most grateful to the Ad Hoc group chaired by.

Mr. F. K. Hu for its careful and, thorough study and examination of the Tate's Cairn Tunnel Bill and for their full support.

I would like to thank in particular Miss Tam and Dr. Lam for their helpful comments and suggestions.

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Miss Tam has pointed out a very important part of the franchise regarding the guarantee agreements between

Government and the consortium members.

These contractual

arrangements are one of the means through which the

Government seeks to maximise the benefits to the community

It is

and to protect the interest of the travelling public. important to stress that the purpose of such guarantees is to limit the size and frequency of any future toll increases and

to ensure that the toll structure can be as stable as possible in the longer term. In addition, as I said when

three weeks ago introducing this Bill, any toll increase will not be granted by the Governor in Council as long as the tunnel company remains reasonably remunerative. I hope this also answers Dr. Lam's worries on excessive tolls being charged later on.

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