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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, after attending the Legislative Council's Panel on Transport Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways special meeting today (March 30):
Reporter: The MTR is raising its fare by 5.4 per cent, are you heading in a direction that the MTR should also take into account the profit in reviewing the fare adjustment mechanism?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: On the fare adjustment mechanism, the 5.4 per cent is calculated in accordance with the mechanism now set out in the agreement. The components are the CPI (Consumer Price Index) as well as the wage index of the relevant industry, that is, the transport industry. Of course we need to respect the mechanism we have now. On the other hand, I think the MTR Corporation must take into account the overall economic situation as well as the affordability of its passengers. Therefore we have urged that the MTR must come up with concessions that will really benefit its passengers. They are now thinking about it.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, March 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:39
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