F3 EPA news report 2009-2010
3C Gretl & Emily
Emily:
Gretl, have you heard of the issue concerning the construction of
Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Hong Kong Section (廣深
港高速鐵路香港段) terminal? I’m so happy about it!
Gretl:
Of course I have heard about that! What a nonsense decision to be building the
station at West Kowloon! It costs too much!
The Hong Kong Government has decided to set the rail terminus (終點站) in West
Emily:
Kowloon. My father can go to Mainland more conveniently.
Gretl:
What do you mean? Do you know how much should the government pay to set the
terminus in West Kowloon? 66.9 billion! If the government set it in Kam Sheung
Road, the expense will drop by 50 billion. Why does the government insist on
building it in West Kowloon.
Emily:
You know? West Kowloon is an urban area and building the terminus there can
provide convenience. Also, it can help the economic growth of West Kowloon and
thereby boost the Hong Kong economy.
Gretl:
It is just a matter of government-business collusion(官商勾結)! There are no
benefits for the grass roots of the society but the government and businessmen. Yet,
building the express rail link expenses taxes of the Hong Kong taxpayers. Also,
building the terminal forces the residents in Choi Yuen Tsuen to move away from
their homes.
Emily:
But have you thought of the benefits of all Hong Kong people? By estimation, there
are 99 thousand people traveling from Mainland to Hong Kong each day. The cost of
the express railway link is 70% of that of an air ticket. People can spend less money
to go to Mainland and from Mainland to Hong Kong.
Gretl
Less money? We still need $180 to buy the ticket if we travel from Hong Kong to
Guangzhou. How come the grass roots of the society have that huge amount of
money to travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou? Hong Kong government just
wasting the taxes of taxpayers to build that useless express railway link for the
businessmen. It takes nearly 10 thousands Hong Kong dollars from each of us!!!
Emily
I know, I know, that’s why there are lots of people join the protestation. They
siege(圍困) the Legislative council, wanted to stop the Executive council approved
government plans for the Express railway link and penance(苦行). They
prostrate(俯伏) every 26 steps.
Gretl
Oh, I really support the protesters, they government has to listen to us!!! It is not
democracy if the government keeps on working and ignores our voices. The Express
railway link costs too much!!
Emily
Hey, but Gretl, you know? If we want something, we have to sacrifice something that
less important. So if we want to have a more convenient transport railway and use
less money to travel, we have to sacrifice!
Gretl
NONSENSE!!! Sacrifice $10000 and the home of the villagers?? How come?? The
working principle of the government is based on the citizens, they have to listen to
our opinions and adjust the measures. But in this case, the government turns a deaf
ear (充耳不聞) to us and just keeps on working for the benefits of the Express
railway link and the businessmen.
Emily
Hey, we also have benefits on the construction of the Express railway link, the
benefits are not just for the businessmen but all the citizens.
Gretl
I think the government can use that huge amount of money on educational and
Emily
medical aspect. We want a better living standard not that rubbish, useless express
railway!!!
But the Express railway link can prevent Hong Kong from marginalize(邊緣化) and
provide more job opportunities, it helps to reduce the unemployment. Also, we all
have the right to use it!! We can have a more convenient transport system, and can
travel to Mainland more conveniently. It is not useless!!!
Gretl
Okay, it is not useless, but I absolutely sure that there are many people who do not
want the government to build the Express railway link and still protesting with the
plan. They wanted to join the vote, and wanted to stop the approval of the money of
the plan.
Emily
I know, but the original plan have been discussed for several years, and the money
already been approved, what they are doing now is to push the Chief Executive call
back the plan. However, it is impossible to do that.
Gretl
So that I think the government has to let us to vote for the plan!! If we can vote for it,
there will not be so many protesters. It is not democracy that only the Legislative
members can vote for it.
Emily
I agree with your idea, but all we can do now is only waiting for the construction of
the Express railway link, and wait to use it.
Gretl
We can do nothing now as the proposal has been passed. The only thing we can do is
to monitor the use of money on the construction work of the express rail link. I
believe that tension between the government and the public may not be grown, if the
government has listened to the protesters originally.
Emily+Gretl This is the end of our news report, thank you.