TNAG-2693-FCO40-3896-Meetings-and-calls-on-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-fo-1993 — Page 16

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While the Hong Kong government does not have any doubts about the principle of a privately developed railway line, they remain unclear as to who will operate the line and whether or not it is a viable economic proposition. Specifically, it is suggested that there are a number of problems which Cheung Kong have not addressed to the Government's satisfaction. First, your proposal apparently includes a line which runs alongside a street at Cheung Sha Wan. This needs to be looked at more carefully from an environmental point of view. Secondly, Cheung Kong have proposed that their railway should link with the airport railway at Cheung Sha Wan, and the Government does not believe that there is adequate provision for a junction at that point. Lastly, the Government needs a lot more information from Cheung Kong on estimated traffic flows which are important for an assessment of overall viability. Overall, the Government is clear that the ball remains in the Cheung Kong court to provide further justification for their project, and clearly a great deal more work remains to be done with officials before the proposition can be accepted.

I felt it right that you should be personally aware of all these issues so have written in some detail. If there is anything more we can do to help, no doubt you will let me know. In any event, when I am next in Hong Kong perhaps we could meet again to discuss this and other projects.

I have woken to the people you

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