6
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. Hong Kong Economic Journal. Some bankers and people from the private sector have suggested that political blessing from the Chinese government is essential to the success of this PADS as many parts of it have a post 1997 implication. How would you convince the Chinese side that, I mean, to ask them for this blessing. Do you think their blessing is essential to the success of this PADS?
Al. I think, certainly, Chinese support is very important indeed and what we are talking about is an international airport that will serve a Special Administrative Region of China. So I think Chinese support is very important. I agree with what has been said. I think 'blessing' is, perhaps the wrong word. I think support...
Q... But so far the Chinese response is lukewarm and on occasions sceptical. Would you agree?
A.
No.
I would say Chinese comments so far have been quite prudent. If we are asking for their support they must have quite a lot of information. We have had discussions with them. Those discussion continue and we are supplying more and more information as the project unfolds. There are no secrets actually.
Q2. Financial Times (UK). Can I do a follow-up to that? Have you nearly completed, I was going to ask whether you have completed, giving them the basic information they want? To your knowledge, has Xinhua yet sent the report that it is preparing to Beijing and when do you expect to have a reaction from Beijing which will indicate to you what China thinks about the airport?
A2.
I can't answer you too precisely. We have supplied information to Xinhua. I am not sure whether they have sent that particular batch of information to Beijing. We are in discussion with them and we will be supplying them with more information.
Q....Do you think that they will reach a conclusion? when do you hope they will reach a conclusion?
Or
A. Again, I can't be precise about this. The sooner the better as far as we are concerned. But it is a very complicated project and I would expect them to be asking quite a lot of questions.