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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, speaking to the media on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link project after attending a radio programme today (January 20):
Reporter: When will the Government have to really consider whether they will suspend the express railway project?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: Judging from the works progress and the fact that by the middle of the year, roughly within July, the existing $65 billion entrustment fee given to the MTR Corporation will be exhausted, so, therefore, we have to decide at the time, a few months prior to July, as to whether we need to trigger the decision to at least stop the works on a temporary basis. I reckon that by the end of February, that is roughly the time we need to consider the question. I am not saying that by the end of February we have to stop works. I am saying that we have to start thinking, and the time window is rather narrow by that time.
Reporter: Do you think you have enough time to get the funding approval? And are you confident of getting this funding approval right now?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: I can only say that I hope the LegCo would approve the additional funding because, without the additional funding, the works will not be able to continue, and that will mean rather serious consequences for Hong Kong.
Reporter: You said you are going to consider suspending the project at the end of February. If it is suspended, when will it begin?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: There will be a few steps. First, suspension on a temporary basis. But, six months after temporary suspension the contractors can walk out of the contract because, after six months, the contracts will be deemed as terminated. Once a contract is terminated, if we want to restart the works, we have to restart the tendering process. New contractors may have views about existing works, and there will be more time required to review the design, to sort out all kinds of issues. So, any termination of contract will lead to more expenses and longer time to complete the project.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:50
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