Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending radio programmes today (August 24):
Reporter: Mr Chan, I just want to ask about the 80 000 passenger figure again which is like significantly lower than the figure quoted in 2015 when the Government asked for more extra funding. Do you think people in Hong Kong would feel that they're cheated this time?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: I would say that the patronage contained in the Legislative (Council) paper back in 2015 or even earlier is indeed higher than what we have been trying to inform the public today. But I would emphasise even at those days, those figures are being quoted and given based on some scientific simulation models which are commonly used in global cross-boundary infrastructure. For the figures we quoted today or yesterday, actually these are figures that are based on similar models, but with the addition of change in the frequency of high-speed rail train. For example, like normal days from Monday to Thursday, there would be about 70 pairs of trains, for weekends 82 (pairs), and then on peak days it would be about 114 pairs. And these changes in the number of train pairs today would indeed bring changes to the patronage. So we are actually trying to review as much as possible to let the public and everybody of Hong Kong know the exact situation.
Reporter: … the number of non-stop trains can't be increased in the future if the passenger numbers go up and under what sort of condition would that go ahead?
Secretary for Transport and Housing: At this moment in time, because it's something new for Hong Kong and therefore we are not for sure how many patronage we are going to have on day one. We do have an agreement with the China Railway (Corporation) in future – if the patronage will change or the fill-up rate is high, then we would kick in the mechanism to talk about additional train pair and perhaps also additional train destination, and hopefully would bring more benefits and choices for Hong Kong people. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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