MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): President, the Secretary mentioned in the main reply that upon assessment, the new BCP would be able to divert passenger and vehicular flows from Sha Tau Kok and Man Kam To. However, as far as I know, after the commissioning of the new BCP, a large number of Mainland tour groups will come to Hong Kong via the new BCP instead of Lok Ma Chau in order to save the trouble of taking the "yellow bus" to San Tin. Therefore, the situation then may not be as what the Secretary has assessed, i.e. only Sha Tau Kok and Man Kam To will be affected. The passenger flow at Lok Ma Chau BCP will also be significantly reduced at the same time.

I would like to ask the Secretary whether, in view of the possible errors in the assessment, he will conduct a more detailed assessment and consult the tourism and transport industries so as to make better arrangements at the new BCP.

 

SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT (in Cantonese): I thank Mr YIU for his supplementary question. I think that Mr YIU's remark is partially correct. According to the current plan, as I said earlier on, it is anticipated that the new BCP can handle 7 700 vehicle trips in the early-stage commissioning, and the majority of which will be goods vehicles, accounting for 6 000 vehicle trips. As for cross-boundary buses, including cross-boundary tour coaches, Members should also be aware that a quota will be set in the future and at the initial stage, the quota may be about 100. In other words, the impact in terms of vehicle trips is not great, that is, out of the 7 000-odd vehicle trips, cross-boundary buses only take up 200 vehicle trips, on the assumption of same-day return trips. However, Member is right in saying that the operation of the future new BCP will surely take into account, as far as possible, the convenience of cross-boundary tours, thus arrangements will be made to cater for such needs.

 

MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): I asked the Secretary whether he would conduct another assessment after consulting the tourism and transport industries.

 

SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT (in Cantonese): President, let me add a few more words. After the commissioning of the new BCP, the Government will certainly consult the stakeholders in a timely manner in light of the various scenarios of the new BCP.