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Tycoon warns HK against also-ran status 2.
Excavation fees and penalties loom for utilities
1. Tycoon warns HK against also-ran status
Hong Kong could become an economic also-ran unless it put in place "missing links"
with the fast-developing Pearl River Delta region, a tycoon warned. Hopewell Holdings
chairman Sir Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, who also chairs the Port and Maritime Board,
told the South China Morning Post development of the SAR's logistics and infrastructure
capabilities was crucial to cash in on the campaign to develop western areas of
the mainland. A bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai - which Hopewell Holdings
is proposing and has discussed with Macau and the mainland - could funnel all
future cargo and tourists from west of the delta to Chek Lap Kok airport, Sir
Gordon said, and avoid over-reliance on Shenzhen. The present three cargo crossings
are concentrated in the eastern New Territories connecting Shenzhen to Lok Ma
Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok. However, the latest study of Hong Kong's logistics
development has only proposed high-speed boat links with areas west of the Pearl
River Delta. Sir Gordon said commercial considerations came second to the SAR's
future. "My vision is that Hong Kong will be better connected with the Pearl River
Delta loop by this link. "I don't care who builds it as long as it gets built."
But the Transport Bureau maintained the western road link with the delta would
not be required until 2020, citing observations by one of its consultants. Sir
Gordon, also a member of the Commission on Strategic Development, laid out his
vision for Hong Kong in a similar way in the 1980s when he proposed Shenzhen build
extensive roads and Hong Kong a new airport. He said neither boat nor rail links
were effective. "Cargo is the lowest priority in the mainland rail system," he
said. The 65-year-old tycoon said if Hong Kong did not grab the chance to improve
its road system now, it would lose out to rapidly expanding areas within the delta.
"If we don't do it now the losses could last forever. The mainland is about to
enter the World Trade Organisation and has kicked off its Go West project, which
would stimulate its imports and accelerate development." The expected surge in
imports to the mainland would also require the Government to build additional
container terminals, preferably in the deep water regions near the airport, he
said. Within Hong Kong, Sir Gordon said, a half-bridge, half-tunnel link should
be built between the airport and Tuen Mun, to ease traffic jams on the Tuen Mun
Highway and provide a fast link for cargo via Deep Bay Bridge. By contrast, the
Government is planning to build the Tsing Lung Bridge to connect northeast Lantau
with the Tuen Mun Highway. The chairman of the Lok Ma Chau China-Hong Kong Freight
Association, Chiang Chi-wai, a cargo driver who crosses the border every day,
said the proposed west bridge linking Lantau to Macau and Zhuhai would benefit
drivers who delivered goods from the west of the river delta. He urged the mainland
and Hong Kong governments to open all counters at the Lok Ma Chau border for 24
hours to speed the flow of goods. [Source:
SCMP, 3 October 2001] 2.
Excavation fees and penalties loom for utilities
Excavation fees for public utilities and government departments could be imposed
as early as next year, the Legco Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday. They
also could be penalised for delays in repairing excavations to roads under a plan
unveiled after a value-for-money investigation by the Director of Audit in March
criticised the Government for not imposing such charges. It said the Treasury
could have received up to $76 million a year had it done so. Speaking at the committee
hearing yesterday, Secretary for Works Lee Shing-see said the Government would
start consulting utility firms this week and would report to Legco by December.
He said a bill would be introduced by April. Under the proposal, the Government
would impose charges for each permit issued to public utilities and their contractors
when they wanted to dig up roads to carry out work. Last year, the Government
issued 23,000 such permits free for at least 43,000 road openings by public utilities
and government departments. Mr Lee said under the proposed bill, the firms and
government departments would be subjected to the fees, which have yet to be determined.
At present, the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance gives officials power
to prosecute utilities when they delay finishing projects. But no prosecutions
have been made since 1972 due to a loophole in the law. Towngas public affairs
manager Grace Lam Wong Pik-har said the company was against excavation fees and
the penalty system. [Source:
SCMP, 4 October 2001] |  |
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