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A. You have got a situation where Hong Kong is going to be the main commercial centre of this particular region for quite a number of years yet, a long period of time. It needs its own international airport, it needs a major international airport to serve it. And so we believe we need this airport as close as possible to the commercial centre. Now, CLK is pretty well placed, particularly if you take into the sort of links that we are planning. And we are planning links that will get you from CLK into Central in about, if my memory serves me correctly, about 25 minutes. It would take you much longer than that to get from an airport in Shenzhen. Also you would probably have to go through different border crossings. So it wouldn't be at all convenient as far as serving Hong Kong is concerned. I think CLK makes a lot of sense.
Q17. AFP.
Have you actually promised the Chinese that you will be leaving them a very comfortable coffer in 1997?
A. I have indicated, em, I am just trying to think whether it is publicly or privately, anyway,
anyway, I will indicate it publicly now, that what we intend to do is to leave the SAR with a first-class international airport and full coffers.
Q.
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What do you mean by full?
A. What do I mean by full? I mean, actually, good strong reserves and a balanced budget. I think I did say that
publicly. It is quite achievable actually.
Q18. Hong Kong Standard. I would like to back to the support from China. Do you see the June 4th event will somehow have a negative effect on the Chinese determination to support the airport project?
A. No, not really. I think June 4th was an unhappy event but we are moving on beyond June 4th. We are talking about building a piece of infrastructure in Hong Kong that will be of immense benefit both to Hong Kong and southern China. And I think as the tale unfolds, as we work with the Chinese, explaining matters to the Chinese, they will realise that.
Q...So you don't see that there is any negative effect from the June 4th events and the response from the Hong Kong people, in terms of affecting the determination of China investment on airport projects. Is that what you are saying?