THE Legislative Council will be consulted when the Government drafts the franchise agreement early next year for the $6 billion country park section of Route 3 in the New Territories. After a meeting with the Secretary for Transport, Haider Barma, yesterday, Zachary Wong Wai-yin quoted him as saying bids would be invited for the construction of the section by the end of this year. The road will run from Au Tau to Ting Kau and the Government considers it to be the solution to traffic congestion along the Tuen Mun Highway. Mr Wong said Mr Barma had told him the Government would consult Legco during the process of drafting the franchise agreement. The Western Harbour Crossing's 30-year franchise arrangement was approved by a narrow margin in July after a row between councillors and the Government over an automatic toll increase built into it. Mr Wong said private contractors need not be involved. ''The Government has already allocated $3.7 billion to build one section of the Ting Kau Bridge, so why doesn't it pay for the other $6 billion?'' he said.
