Introductory remarks by SJ at press conference on co-location arrangement of Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (with videos)
***************************************************************
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC; the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan; and the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, held a press conference on the co-location arrangement of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link this afternoon (July 25). Following is the introductory remarks by Mr Yuen:
Thanks for attending this press conference concerning co-location.
Ever since the planning stage of the Hong Kong Section of the Express Rail Link, which I shall call, in short form, the XRL, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) has been studying co-location arrangement as the clearance procedures for the XRL. In his 2007-2008 Policy Address, the then Chief Executive announced that the feasibility of implementing co-location arrangement would be actively considered. When the HKSARG made the relevant funding application before the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, it again indicated that the Government would study the implementation of co-location arrangement.
The HKSARG takes the view that implementing co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon Station can maximise the benefits that may arise from the operation of the Hong Kong Section of XRL. On the contrary, if the traditional form of separate-location arrangement were to be implemented, the benefit of the Hong Kong Section of XRL would be greatly reduced, and would be inconsistent with the original intention of constructing the Hong Kong Section of the XRL.
Throughout the period during which the HKSARG and the relevant Mainland authorities conducted study and discussion, both sides have all along agreed that co-location arrangement should comply with three objectives, namely:
First, from the legal perspective, it should be consistent with the "one country, two systems" policy, and should not contravene the Basic Law.
Second, from the operational perspective, it has to be feasible and effective.
Third, from the security perspective, it should be able to manage security risk robustly, so as to prevent security loopholes.
The purpose of today's meeting is to introduce the proposal concerning co-location. I will first invite the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan, to do his part of the introduction; thereafter, I and the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, will respectively do the introduction on the legal and security aspects. After a few concluding remarks by me, we would be more than happy to answer your questions.
I would now pass the floor to Mr Frank Chan.
Ends/Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:52
NNNN