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1.Hub bidders snub Legco

2.Approval of Kowloon Southern Link Project Agreement

1. Hub bidders snub Legco
CHLOE LAI, SCMP 13 September 2005

Bidders for the West Kowloon cultural hub have turned down an invitation to address a Legco subcommittee on the project's development.

The shortlisted bidders rejected an invitation to speak at this afternoon's meeting, saying they would only do so after the government had announced how the controversial project would move forward.

The office of Chief Secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan also turned down the subcommittee's invitation.

Subcommittee chairman Alan Leong Kah-kit was disappointed with the government's decision. "I'm disappointed but not surprised," he said.

He also told the property developers not to complain if they were unhappy with the Legislative Council's second phase report on the project, which will be released by December.

"The invitation was sent on the basis of fairness in the preparation of the final report. They are giving up the opportunity to have their views included," he said.

The rejections mean that only members of the arts and cultural community are prepared to share their views with legislators.

2. Approval of Kowloon Southern Link Project Agreement
Hong Kong Government, 13 September 2005

The Executive Council approved the draft Kowloon Southern Link (KSL) Project Agreement to be executed by the Government and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC). The draft project agreement sets out the respective rights and obligations of the Government and KCRC in terms of the financing, design, construction and operation of the project.

“The KSL was authorised by the Chief Executive in Council under Section 11(4) of the Railways Ordinance in June 2005. It is now necessary for the Government to enter into a project agreement with KCRC for the implementation of the project", a Government spokesman said today (September 13).

The spokesman added, "The drafting of the Project Agreement is largely based on the West Rail Project Agreement executed in 1998 and the East Rail Extensions Project Agreement executed in 2003."

Among other things, the draft project agreement:-

(a) fixes the scope of works of the KSL project, which KCRC plans, designs and constructs at its own cost;

(b) provides that where property developments are to be undertaken at the KSL West Kowloon Station, KCRC shall undertake such developments;

(c) obliges KCRC to work in accordance with a programme to ensure that the KSL project will be completed on time;

(d) covers land matters in relation to the KSL project; and

(e) obliges KCRC to comply with all the environmental protection requirements.

The KSL project is one of the railway projects recommended for implementation in the Government's Railway Development Strategy 2000. The strategic function of the KSL project is to provide an efficient east-west railway link in the southern part of the Kowloon peninsula. Upon completion of this railway link, the population in the North-West New Territories will have better access to the urban Kowloon areas by rail without the need for any railway interchange.

"The estimated cost of the KSL is $8.3 billion. The construction works for the KSL are about to start for completion in 2009", he added.