Govt making 'good progress' on station co-location plan

The government has so far successfully presented the co-location arrangement for Hong Kong and mainland boundary control facilities, which is essential for the operation of local section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Executive Council Convener Bernard Chan said.

He believes a small percentage of people will always oppose the co-location arrangement because they do not trust the central government. The SAR government needs to do more to inform the public and win the support of most citizens.

He agreed it is necessary to arrange media visits, especially television coverage, to the West Kowloon Station so citizens will know about the immigration and customs clearance procedures by both Hong Kong and mainland authorities.

It is also useful to produce video clips that clearly show signage and lines that separate the zones of Hong Kong and mainland jurisdiction inside the station. Animated videos showing clearance procedures should also be made so the public could have a better idea of the Mainland Port Area inside the station, where mainland laws apply.

"I think the government is attempting to, as far as possible, not politicize the co-location arrangement and cool down the dispute with an accommodating, communicative manner," he told China Daily.

"There are always people who oppose. Those who oppose will continue to oppose. I guess they are people who have never visited the mainland or will never visit the mainland. It is useless talking speediness and convenience to them because that will not change their mind. I also think there are people who oppose the co-location arrangement in the hope to consolidate their (radical) supporters."

Chan said the majority of Hong Kong citizens are moderate, pragmatic people and will accept the co-location arrangement.

"The government, however, needs to do more to ease the doubts and horrifying descriptions by the opposition camp. Before 1997, there were 'fears' that the People's Liberation Army stationed in Hong Kong would catch people in the streets. Twenty years on, no problems have occurred while the conduct of the Hong Kong-based soldiers has been as good, if not better than troops in the British Army," Chan said.

"The opposition says their main 'reason' for opposing co-location is they fear it will open up a floodgate of executing mainland laws in Hong Kong. So the government needs to explain more clearly and fully to the citizens that it will not open up a floodgate," he advised.

joseph@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 08/16/2017 page4)