********************************************

Following is the English translation of the speech by the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng, in moving a motion under Section 30 of the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Ordinance (Cap. 520) in the Legislative Council today (April 12):

Madam President,

I move that the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Bylaw be approved.

The 2.4-km Discovery Bay Tunnel Link, which includes a 630m long single-tube two-way tunnel, will connect Discovery Bay with the utility service road parallel to the North Lantau Highway at Siu Ho Wan. It is a private road tunnel to be built, maintained and operated by the Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited at its cost. Upon completion, it will provide an additional access for Discovery Bay which is now served only by ferry service.

By virtue of the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Ordinance, the Discovery Bay Road Tunnel Company Limited is vested with the power to construct, operate, maintain and manage the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link. The Company is also empowered to make bylaws to control and regulate the conduct of vehicles and people within the tunnel area of the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link.

The Company made the relevant Bylaw on 29 February of this year. The Bylaw mainly deals with the rules that drivers are required to comply with. Provisions in the Bylaw are largely the same as those in the bylaws of other tunnels.

Apart from the Bylaw mentioned above, I have also exercised the power vested in me under the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Ordinance to make regulations in relation to the obligations and powers of the Company in operating the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link. The Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Regulation was introduced into the Legislative Council on July 14, 1999 for negative vetting and has been approved.

The Discovery Bay Tunnel Link is scheduled to be opened shortly. Therefore, the Bylaw has to be in place to expressly provide for the Company's power in the management and operation of the Tunnel Link and to lay down the rules to be observed by tunnel users.

Madam President, I beg to move.

End/Wednesday, April 12, 2000

NNNN