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Following is a transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, after the Legislative Council Finance Committee's funding approval for the Shatin to Central Link today (May 11):
Reporter: Ms Cheng, can you tell us what's the progress of the Shatin to Central Link?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: We are very happy that the Finance Committee has just completed procedures to approve funds for the construction of the Shatin to Central Link. It is not just a local railway. It has strategic importance for our total railway network because it will provide for north-south and east-west corridors. In terms of north-south, it will extend our East Rail, via Exhibition Centre, to Admiralty. In terms of east-west, it will provide a link from Wu Kai Sha right to Tuen Mun. It is 17 kilometres in length, has got 10 stations, six interchange stations and in the long term will provide for a lot of savings of course in travelling time for the public. It will also introduce impetus to the redevelopment of areas such as To Kwa Wan and Ma Tau Wai. So all in all, I think in building the Shatin to Central Link, it is an important milestone in the five-year term of this Government that has been able to trigger and start off so many important projects including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, five railways and three major road networks. We think we've made pretty good progress during these five years.
Reporter: With the delays, has there been any increase in construction cost ... further increase in construction cost?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: For the railway, based on the tenders we've received so far, I think we are quite confident that we will be within estimates. But of course, previously Legco also approved in the PWSC (Public Works Subcommittee), and we are still going to the Finance Committee on the Hong Kong Link road which is part of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project, that has suffered delays and of course an $8.8 billion cost increase. We at the moment are monitoring all the works very closely. Of course we do not wish to have further delays because that will mean an increase in price estimates, materials and inflation. For the Shatin to Central Link, we are pretty confident we will be within estimates.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, May 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:58
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