***********************************************************
Following is the translation of the speech by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in moving a motion on the Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road (Amendment) Bylaw 2012 in Legislative Council today (July 17):
President,
I move that the fourth motion standing in my name on the agenda be passed.
The motion that I now move covers amendments made by franchisee of Route 3, the Route 3 (CPS) Company Limited under the Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road Ordinance, to amend the Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road Bylaw (Route 3 Bylaw).
The two key amendments proposed by the Route 3 franchisee are: first, providing for standardised autotoll signage; and second, providing that the maximum speed limit inside the tunnel for vehicles driven by a person holding a probationary driving licence is 70 km/h, even if the speed limit for the tunnel is higher than 70 km/h. In addition, the Route 3 Bylaw already allows the tunnel franchisee to control vehicular traffic and pedestrians by using light signals. The franchisee has proposed to update the relevant provisions to align them with the newly added provisions in the by-laws of the other three Build-Operate-Transfer tunnels.
Subject to the approval of the motion by the Legislative Council, the amendment by-laws will commence on July 20, 2012.
President, I move the motion.
Ends/Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 22:02
NNNN