16 JAN '90 11:18 FROM COI TECHNICAL RADIO
TO FCO NEWS
PAGE.003/007
TRANSCRIPT A
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FOREIGN SBC
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HONG KONG 16 JAX 90
FORRIGE SECRETARY (COBT):
But actually the main impression I will carry back to London
this evening is not one of the anxieties and the problems, although
Hong Kong has more than its share of problems.
I knew Hong Kong a bit 30 years ago, or 25 years ago, and of
course I knew that it had transformed itself several times since I
was last here with Ars Thatcher. But I had not entirely been
prepared for the impact of those changes on the visitor. This is
one of the world's most modern cities, a fabulous skyline, a first-
class transport system, a public housing programme second to none
and far superior to most being operated in Europe. It is the
world's 11th largest trading entity and ranks just above the
Republic of Korea, a country which has over 6 times Hong Kong's
population.
That much everyone in this room knows. What I had not
entirely deen prejarea lui. was the plan, the plans to traasform
Hong Kong yet again. I have been briefed on these and I have flown
over the new territories and the islands and seen the scale of what
is proposed: a new airport with a capacity for 80 million
passengers a year, that is more than Heathrow and Gatwick together
are handling now; a port development which will take Hong Kong
from its present position when it is already the world's largest
container port, to a position where it will be more than 5 times
its present size early in the next century; 250 miles of new
roads; up to 10 major new tunnels;
several new tows; and public
housing for 2 million people over the next 10 years. I am told the
size of these projects is unique in the world today.