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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link project after attending the Public Works Subcommittee Meeting at the Legislative Council today (January 27):
Reporter: What would be the worst case scenario if the meeting is dragged on? A lot of lawmakers are still very concerned about clearance for entrance. Can the Government do more to reassure them, give them the reassurance?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: First of all, I have time and again reassured the Legislators that whatever co-location proposal the Government will come up with after thorough discussions with the Mainland authorities, such a proposal will not breach the provisions of the Basic Law and will not breach the principle of "one country, two systems". I have also added at this morning's meeting that any proposal from the Government will require Legislative Council (LegCo) approval. So there will be an opportunity for the LegCo members to really look at the details of the proposal, and then decide if that is in the best interest of Hong Kong. But at this point in time, we are facing a very pressing problem and that is the additional funding for the (Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong) Express Rail (Link) Project, because if we cannot come up with additional funding by a certain date, then we will need to trigger the suspension of works and that would mean a lot of uncertainties and serious consequences for Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:31
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