Transcript of remarks by STH

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after touring the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on its first day of operation this morning (October 24):

Secretary for Transport and Housing: Today we have the official opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge which is serving Hong Kong citizens and tourists from overseas. As we can see, they are all very excited and trying to be the first ones to board the bus, buy the ticket and exit the Departure Hall. So I would expect this would provide Hong Kong citizens and tourists a very pleasant travel experience.

Reporter: Given what you are seeing on the first day of the Bridge opening, do you think that the existing quota and also the capacity of the Hong Kong Port area will suffice to provide for the number of visitors and people who are going through the Port area, in the medium to long term?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: I would say that the capacity of handling is going to increase in the years to come. As we can see, there are roughly about 100 cross-boundary coaches from Hong Kong to the Mainland. Also, I was given to understand that some 30 000 tourists will be coming over from the Mainland to Hong Kong. We will keep a close watch of the situation and try to mobilise more resources in enabling our handling capacity so as to give all Hong Kong residents and passengers a pleasant travelling experience.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)