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Following is the transcript (English part) of the Secretary for Transport, Mr Nicholas Ng's briefing to the media after the Legislative Council's Transport Panel today (October 18):
Reporter: (Question on the possible delay in Spur Line and its impact on other East Rail extension projects)
Mr Ng: The Government invited the Kowloon and Canton Railway Corporation to undertake the three railway extension projects of the East Rail, i.e. the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, the Ma On Shan to Tai Wai Extension and the Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui Extension. When we invited the KCRC to undertake these three projects, we made it quite clear that the target completion date would be the end of 2004. Obviously the Spur Line, because of the need to settle the environmental aspects, whether there will be impact on the target complete date, would obviously need to await the outcome of the environmental procedures.
But as to the other two segments, I just don't see why there should be any change to the target completion date. But let me stress the work procedures and the implementation arrangements of these railway projects is a matter for the KCRC to determine. But the target completion date is something that we set out and we agreed between both parties.
Reporter: (Question on the communication problems between the Transport Bureau and other departments)
Mr Ng: In major public transport infrastructure projects of this nature, there are various hoops we have to go through. They are the environmental aspects; in the course of the construction, there are safety aspects and there may also be in some cases, the building regulations and procedures, that the Corporation would have to go through. In the course of that, there might be problems. It is the question of taking the best measures to resolve the problems.
The Transport Bureau would certainly, in the light of experience, see how we would further improve the communication or perhaps coordination between bureaux and relevant Government departments. But it doesn't mean there is no coordination, it doesn't mean the present situation is inadequate, we can always learn from experience, we can always learn to improve on the existing arrangement.
Reporter: (Question on Electronic Road Pricing(ERP))
Mr Ng: We haven't reached that stage yet. Quite obviously, the ERP project is something we'll need to consider very very carefully. It is not the first time this proposal has been raised in Hong Kong. So there has been past discussion, but nonetheless, the situation may be different now, technology may be different now, the consideration may be different now. We have not reached the stage yet, but as the Chief Executive mentioned in his Policy Address, we would need to carefully consider the feasibility of using ERP, we will need to carefully take into account the various issues involved before we are able to make any decision. So it's still quite a lot of work that we need to do.
Reporter: (Question on ERP)
Mr Ng: I certainly feel that we can explore, but I wouldn't be able to give you an answer whether I feel whether we need it in Hong Kong; whether it is an effective means to tackle the transport and environmental or other problems and objectives. I won't be able to give you the answer at this stage.
(Please also refer to the Chinese transcript for remarks made in Chinese)
End/Wednesday, October 18, 2000
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Secretary for Transport's stand-up session