Mr So, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to be here today to celebrate with you the arrival of the first Airport Express Train.

The Airport Express Train, when commissioned next year, will provide commuters with an unprecedented travelling experience. Together with our new airport at Chek Lap Kok, it will enhance Hong Kong's status as a world class transport hub as we join the league of modern cities which run dedicated rail lines to their airports.

I was pleased to hear the Chairman's report just now on the excellent progress the MTRC is making on the Airport Railway Project. The Corporation has established a reputation of delivering an efficient, effective and high quality mass transit railway service. It will continue to have a very important role to play in developing our transport infrastructure. In his Policy Address last week, our Chief Executive pledged that we would introduce major improvements to the transport infrastructure in support of our housing development programmes. This will include the development of high capacity, environmentally friendly rail systems. The Corporation's next major tasks following the Airport Railway will be the Tseung Kwan O Extension and Quarry Bay congestion relief works. There are also other plans such as a new MTR North Island Line connecting Central to Causeway Bay, extension of the MTR Island Line to Kennedy Town and Green Island, and a fourth cross harbour rail route which we will look to the Corporation for contribution and co-operation in the future.

On this note, I congratulate the MTRC and the rolling stock contractor on their significant achievement today. The people of Hong Kong and our visitors can look forward to riding on this new train all the way to the airport very soon.

Thank you.