HONG KONG: Independent lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee yesterday said she will back funding for the cross-border express along with the pro-establishment camp, making it more likely the government will clear the first hurdle on the question.

Speaking after a meeting of the Legislative Council's public works subcommittee, Ip said she will support the funding proposal because she thinks the government should not continue to drag its heels over the issue after years of discussion.

With Ip, Timothy Fok Tsun-ting and legislators from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Federation of Trade Unions, Liberal Party and Professional Forum determined to vote for the project in today's resumed meeting, the government is expected to win at least 13 votes out of 22 members expected to cast votes.

It remains unknown whether lawmaker Abraham Shek Lai-him, who is ill, will attend today's meeting of the 25-member subcommittee.

Civic Party legislator Alan Leong Kah-kit, who sat in lieu of Raymond Ho Chung-tai at the meeting, is eligible to vote only to break a tie in the voting.

Subcommitte chairman Ho, a non-executive director of China State Construction International Holdings, which has said it wants to bid for contracts for the rail link, decided during the meeting to pass the hosting right to Leong after concerns were raised over potential conflict of interests.

Ho also decided not to vote on the project.

Meanwhile, eight subcommittee members from the Democratic Party, Civic Party, League of Social Democrats and Civic Act-up vowed to vote no to the proposal.

Andrew Cheng Kar-foo from the Democratic Party said that his party recognizes the need for a high-speed rail link connecting with the mainland, but opposes the government's plan to place the terminus in West Kowloon.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said from overseas experience, it will be the best if the terminus for an express rail link is in the town center.

On the concern that the underground railway running through Tai Kok Tsui may affect the structure of the blocks above, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Housing Philip Yung Wai-hung said the works will be insured and that residents can seek compensation if needed.

Medical-sector lawmaker Leung Ka-lau said he remains undecided as his sector is divided on the issue.

If this hurdle is overcome, the government still has to gain approval from a majority of the finance committee's members before commencing work.

The government recently estimated that the Hong Kong section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong speed rail will cost about HK$55 billion to build.

An extra HK$11.8 billion is needed for public infrastructure works linking the new West Kowloon terminus with areas and MTR stations nearby. It also requires HK$86 million to compensate those who will be displaced by the project, authorities said.

Protests erupted on the sidelines of the meeting. Dozens of Choi Yuen Tsuen villagers and students demonstrated outside the Legislative Council's building to urge lawmakers to save their homes.

A group of members of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union, meanwhile, shouted slogans outside, calling on legislators to back the project to create more job opportunities.

The subcommittee meeting will continue today.

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/03/2009 page1)