*********************************************************
Following is the English translation of the opening remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, on transport policy areas at the Finance Committee special meeting in the Legislative Council today (April 11):
Honourable Chairperson,
I would like to brief Members now on our priority areas under the transport portfolio in the new financial year.
Regarding major transport infrastructure projects, the construction works of the West Island Line, the South Island Line (East), the Kwun Tong Line Extension, the Shatin to Central Link and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link are in progress. We expect them to be completed progressively from 2014 to 2020. With these new lines, areas inhabited by more than 70 per cent of the population in Hong Kong will be brought into the railway catchment area.
We are conducting the Stage 2 public engagement exercise for the review and update of the Railway Development Strategy 2000 to discuss the proposals of seven local enhancement schemes. Upon completion of the public engagement exercise, the consultants will consolidate the views collected at both stages of the exercise and carry out a comprehensive analysis. The entire study is expected to be completed within this year.
We are also pressing ahead with the related projects within Hong Kong of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), including the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities and the Hong Kong Link Road projects, and various local road infrastructure projects.
In accordance with the Operating Agreement signed in 2007, the Government is conducting a five-yearly review of the Fare Adjustment Mechanism with the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL). The Government's objective is to enhance the coverage, with a view to incorporating service performance and profitability of the MTRCL, as well as public affordability as factors for consideration in the Fare Adjustment Mechanism. The review has come to the final stage.
In February 2013, the Administration proceeded with a public consultation on proposed measures to improve the traffic distribution among the road harbour crossings, suggesting to divert some traffic from the Cross Harbour Tunnel (CHT) to the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) through toll adjustments. The three options are forecast to bring about 30 per cent to 40 per cent queue reduction at the CHT during rush hours, which will bring about economic benefits as well as improvement to air quality on the road.
On civil aviation, to cater for the increasing air traffic demand, the Government has given in-principle approval to adopt the three-runway system. The Airport Authority (AA) is carrying out the relevant planning work, including the environmental impact assessment and scheme designs. The Government will make a final decision on whether to proceed with the three-runway system in due course. In the meantime, the AA will continue to implement the midfield expansion project and conduct the scheme design study on building another 10 remote aircraft parking stands to cope with air traffic demand in the medium term.
The Chief Executive has announced in the Policy Address the goal to further develop Hong Kong as an international maritime centre and move towards high value-added maritime services. To meet this goal, the Financial Secretary proposes to designate $100 million to establish a training fund for maritime and aviation transport, so as to provide more talents for the industry. The Administration has been conducting the Consultancy Study on Enhancing Hong Kong's Position as an International Maritime Centre, and the Study on the Strategic Development Plan for Hong Kong Port 2030 to update the port cargo forecasts and recommend how to make more efficient use of the existing port facilities. We are also undertaking the technical feasibility study for developing Container Terminal 10 (CT10) at Southwest Tsing Yi. We will take into account the study results, the then global and local economic situation, the performance of the port sector and the views of stakeholders to decide on the need for developing CT10.
On the logistics front, we just released the third logistics site in Tsing Yi for open tendering on March 28. Besides, we have reserved 10 hectares of land in Tuen Mun West for the provision of high value added logistics services. We will conduct traffic impact assessment on this development proposal and carry out district consultation.
Chairman, I would like to respond to the recent strike at the Kwai Chung Container Terminal. First of all, the Administration is deeply concerned about the incident. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, is actively conducting mediation, with a view to resolving the dispute through consensus between the employers and employees. During this period, the Transport and Housing Bureau has been closely in touch with port operators and the industry to maintain an overview of container terminal and port operations. In the short term, there have been shipping companies having to adjust their ship schedules to Hong Kong, and some freight has been delayed. But I believe, so long as our container terminals resume normal operation as soon as possible, the impact on Hong Kong's economy should be minimal in the long run. Our port has competitive advantages in a number of areas, including our free port status and efficient customs, as well as a multi-modal transportation system connecting Hong Kong with the Mainland and the rest of world.
My colleagues and I would be pleased to answer questions from Members. Thank you, Chairperson.
Ends/Thursday, April 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:59
NNNN
