Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (June 5):
Reporter: Do you think the incident at the Shatin Central rail link has revealed some of the loopholes within the monitoring system between the Government and the MTR. And also secondly, there are reports suggesting that the Government is proposing the MTR to build some of the public housing on top of the MTR projects, can you confirm such reports? And also lastly, what's…
Chief Executive: Sorry, two questions are enough for me. I don't have a very good memory these days. Now, first of all, about the monitoring of railway projects, we take it very seriously and there are established mechanisms within the Transport and Housing Bureau, Highways Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, to monitor these railway projects to ensure they are safe and effective. But it is too premature for me to comment right now on what actually has happened on that particular incident in the Hung Hom Station of the Shatin Central Link. We have asked or required the MTR Corporation Limited to submit the report to us as soon as possible, and I can assure you and assure the public, once the facts have been obtained, we will disclose the facts and tell the public if there is a need for any remedial action. As far as a report about using some of the topside developments of the mass transit railway stations for building public housing, whether it is for sale or for rental, again, this is only a speculative report. But what I want to say is, we are extremely concerned about the surging property prices in Hong Kong. The ultimate solution lies in finding more land to build more housing units, either for sale or for rental to people of Hong Kong, and my administration will exhaust every measure in order to achieve that objective.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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