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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, at a media session after attending a radio programme this (June 27) morning:
Reporter: Some lawmakers want to invoke the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance to look at into the delay. Do you think that is a good idea? Especially since you said there maybe a further delay that may push back operation until after 2017. And just one more question, there are growing calls to factor in MTR's performance into the fare adjustment mechanism. What do you think?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: Let me respond to your second question first. As far as the Government is concerned, we consider that any fare adjustment mechanism should be fair to both sides, to the passengers and the operator. The basis for any fare adjustment has to be sufficiently objective and transparent, and based on concrete data. Any mechanism for fare adjustment should also factor in affordability and this is what we already got in the current system. But of course the current system, one may argue (it) always has the room for improvement. So I have already said that the Government will be prepared to bring forward the five-yearly regular fare adjustment review process. If the MTR Corporation is also willing to do that, of course we can bring forward the review.
As to your first question about some LegCo (Legislative Council) members suggesting that LegCo should invoke the (Powers and Privileges) provision (should be Ordinance), what I will say at this stage is that LegCo already has a Select Committee to look into the delay of the Express Rail (Link Hong Kong Section) project and related matters. LegCo has already invited a number of my colleagues to appear before LegCo and I understand that it will also invite people from the MTR Corporation to appear before the Select Committee. Maybe at some point they will invite me to appear as well. As far as the Government is concerned, we would facilitate the work of the Select Committee. We will fully be accountable and we will provide information, explanations to our best effort.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, June 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:12
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