Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session after attending the fifth meeting of the Lantau Development Advisory Committee today (March 21):
Reporter: Any timetable for the cable car system and what are you doing right now to push this forward?
Secretary for Development: For the cable car system extending to Tai O, we are going to undertake a consultancy study this year. It will take about 12 to 18 months. In the process, there will be public engagement and various technical assessments. So, going forward, we need to keep an open mind, and to consider technical and other factors.
Reporter: Are there any other plans to boost tourism in Tai O, or is there anything that you need to do to cater for this?
Secretary for Development: Currently during holidays, it is quite congested in Tai O, particularly for people wishing to take public transport. The queue is usually quite long. We have heard from the local community about improving local transport facilities so as to bring more tourists and local visitors to the village. But on the other hand, we are mindful of the fact that for most part of Lantau Island, conservation is very important. We have to strike a balance. So the cable car study is in a way to address this concern, and to take technical as well as financial and other considerations into account so as to decide whether the proposal on extending the cable car system is viable.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, March 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:13
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