At the 9 November 2009 meeting of the Subcommittee on Harbourfront Planning,
Mrs Carrie Y N Lam, Secretary for Development, brought up the possibility of building a pedestrian cross-harbour tunnel which I proposed to her some while ago. I suggested that the government should build a pedestrian cross-habour tunnel linking Central or Admiralty on Hong Kong Island to the West Kowloon or Star House in Tsimshatsui. The cross-harbour pathway could be flanked with shops to attract more pedestrian traffic. Mrs Lam expressed interest in the proposal and mentioned that it is both technically feasible and financially viable.

Projects approved by Public Works Subcommittee (PWSC)
PWSC, of which I am Chairman, approved a total of eight funding applications with estimated costs totalling HK$70.6 billion at its 2 and 3 December 2009 meetings. The approved projects included additional funding for Tamar Development Project, a secondary school at Aberdeen Reservoir Road in Aberdeen, North Lantau Hospital (phase 1), reprovisioning of Cape Collinson Crematorium, an integrated teaching building of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). It was alleged at the meeting that there was a possible conflict of interest in my role as an independent non-executive director (INED) of a construction company that might bid for the rail project's contracts. In fact, it is well-established that INEDs only receive nominal remuneration (not salary) with no benefit or otherwise from the listed company irrespective of the company's performance but INEDs have the noble duty of monitoring the listed company's operations. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange requires each listed company to appoint at least three INEDs. It is public service!

Considering the seriousness of the accusation, I consulted the LegCo's senior legal advisor, who did not agree that there was any direct conflict because there was no direct monetary benefit. Nevertheless, I decided to step down temporarily from the chair just for this single PWSC item as this was the best way to put an end to the unfounded allegation and for the sake of good perception. In an article entitled "rhetoric blurring common sense" published in the Standard on 3 December 2009, the author wrote, "There should be checks against potential conflicts. But the people here don't want a line stretched so much that what is visible now is blurred by political rhetoric. Once the line becomes ambiguous, it will be dangerous." It was also reported in the headline news on the same day that Dr Sung Lap-kung (宋立功), a political analyst at the City University of Hong Kong, was of the view that I had no direct interest with the company. He expressed his worries that LegCo members' abstaining from voting in light of slightest accusations will affect both the voting and the progress of LegCo meetings.

I will vote when the funding application of the rail project is to be re-considered by the Finance Committee on 18 December 2009. The Hong Kong section of XRL has been thoroughly discussed throughout the years at LegCo. A community group has also been given the chance to explain its proposal. It only outlined its idea of having the terminus of the Hong Kong section of XRL at Kam Sheung Road linked by trains to the existing airport stations in Hong Kong and Kowloon. However, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Association of Engineering Professionals in Society and Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation all did not consider the plan had any merit as a viable engineering solution. In any case, the group has not come up with any detailed plan and cost to date.

There are major non-reconcilable problems in the group's alternative plan. Among others, the location of the terminus at the northwestern part of the New Territories would not provide the convenience of direct connection between city centres. Gross under-estimation of the project's construction costs was also a cause of great concern. As for the proposed crossing over the Rambler Channel will require a very long span bridge, little information has been given on ground conditions, particularly geological formation of the area regarding the existence of a fault zone, which may cause the construction costs of the bridge to rocket sky high! The proposed terminus at Kam Sheung Road if properly sized would probably cut into the existing alignment of Route 3! Surely this is impossible. Shared use of existing rail tracks of the Tung Chung Line and Airport Express Rail to provide transfer for cross-boundary passengers would seriously undermine the capacity of these two links to meet future growth in passenger demand resulting from the development of the airport and the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Consultation on Chief Executive and LegCo electoral methods in 2012
During the 11 November 2009 LegCo meeting, I and members of the Professional Forum were invited to the residence of the Chief Secretary for Administration, where Mr Henry Y Y Tang briefed us on the government's proposals on Chief Executive and LegCo electoral methods in 2012. I expressed some of my concerns on the proposals including the denial of appointed District Council Members of the their votes in both the Chief Executive Election and LegCo in 2012. I have already sent out email to almost 7,000 engineers seeking their views on the government's proposals. I highlighted the areas of concern in form of questions. Engineers are invited to send me their views before 1 February 2009.