Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council Panel on Transport meeting today (January 17):

Reporter: Could you give us a brief recap in English about the progress of the Hung Hom Station now that the first phase of the Tuen Ma Line will open shortly?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: I would like to announce that the Tuen Ma Line Phase 1 is going to be commissioned on February 14. By that time, three new stations, including the Hin Keng Station, Diamond Hill Station Extension as well as Kai Tak Station, will be put into operation. On that particular day, the Transport Department has arranged with all related public transport operators to enhance connecting services and there would be preferential treatment in terms of fare adjustment for those who are connecting between their residences and the railway stations through other transport services. This will be welcomed by the public.

Reporter: What about the Hung Hom Station? Any updates on the progress?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: As for the Hung Hom Station, the MTRC (MTR Corporation Limited) team and its consultants and contractors are working really hard to expedite the improvement work. The target to have the Tai Wai to Hung Hom stations fully commissioned is by the end of 2021. Of course, we would love to have it to be commissioned earlier and it all depends on how smooth the progress is.

Reporter: So is the progress smooth now?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: It's fairly smooth I would say. As time goes on, it all depends because weather and all kinds of things would come up. But the MTRC team and the Government will make every endeavor to expedite the work and provide railway services to the public at the earliest possible.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Friday, January 17, 2020
Issued at HKT 15:39

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