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LCQ5: Progress of MTR platform screen door retrofit programme by an extra charge on Octopus users
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    Following is a question by the Hon Li Kwok-ying and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (May 2) :

Question:

(a) Given that the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has been charging an extra $0.1 for each MTR Octopus journey since July 2000 to fund the platform screen door retrofit programme, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows the total amount of extra fares which has been paid by MTR passengers so far?

Reply:

Madam President,

     The MTRCL announced in 1999 its plan to proceed with the platform screen door (PSD) retrofitting programme in phases in 74 platforms of 30 underground stations built in the 1970s and 1980s on the Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line and Island Line.

     The PSD retrofitting programme is a highly expensive project which includes various contracts for design, manufacturing, installation, testing and delivery of the PSDs, modification of the environmental control systems (which comprise the ventilation, air-conditioning and smoke extract systems), construction of equipment rooms, and modification of signaling system for the new operating environment with PSD retrofitted.  The total project cost of the MTR PSD retrofitting programme valued $2 billion.  In the light of the substantial investment for the retrofitting programme, MTRCL proposed to collect 10 cents per Octopus MTR journey from passengers to fund half of the total project cost, i.e. $1 billion.

     In response to the major works contracts of the retrofit programme being awarded in 2000, the contribution from passengers has been arranged through the collection of 10 cents per Octopus MTR journey from passengers since July 3, 2000 to fund half of the total cost.  The Corporation also informed the Legislative Council Panel on Transport and the Transport Advisory Committee on the arrangement.

     As at December 31, 2006, the contribution of 10 cents for each Octopus passenger trip collected by the Corporation totalled about $470 million.  The collection of the 10 cents passenger contribution will therefore continue until it reaches $1 billion, while the PSD retrofitting work at all 74 platforms of 30 underground stations was completed in the first half of 2006.

Ends/Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:56

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