23-NOV-1990 13:03
SECRETARIAT PRESS OFFICE
+852 868 5212 P.02
Positive P.R. Points
1.
PADS Round-Up (ref CS/FS etc
Legco 31.10.90)
PADS economic not political: Chek Lap Kok 1997 not significant. simply earliest practicable replacement
prevent
diseconomies through
of ioss
to
-
important business from Kai Tak; already 6th busiest in world for passengers, 4th for freight despite single urban runway; unsatisfactory for reasons of safety and
350.000 live under flight-pach! now
veats late and any possible transfer
Chinese internal. or flights, to Guangzhou would only give
give one ΟΙ grace at best.
2.
+
of
Taiwanese
Ewo
years
internally
and
PADS integrated programme, both (combined
airport
location best port
etc) white externally (with Metroplan, transport
white paper. need to relieve/reclaim . Kowloon etc); fail both externally and internally (e. 2. Nim Wan conflicts with shipping. air-space. bird-strike etc).
3.
best other options
No way airport other side of border will do;
HK
aviation";
the paintenance
Do
A centre
point
for of international in
losing Agreements
major with
basic Law actually imposes measures of the status regional JD-guaranteed benefits of Air Service
third countries. just to postpone again replacement of Kai Tak.
4.
Macau + Shenzhen airports complementai y not duplicatory given Pearl Delta prospects, some experts consider area may need more; more widely, HK is a hub of world's fastest growing region: to maintain position, needs to build a 1st rate new airport, and optimise of herbout. physically best ia Asia: i.e. PADS keeps Hong Kong ahead in and for its hinterland.
5.
Surprised
hastiness
that
some
commentators
and lack of
Use
have DOW
consultation
Suggested
given painstaking preliminary studies. and previous criticism for slowness; Governor's announcement of final decision October 1989 not out of the blue; previous discussions and briefings on PADS had
had included some with visitors from China; latest surveys show strong public support despite controversies in press.
5.
never
Full public consultation оп technical plans not normal anywhere; Hong Kong's speed + efficiency has
formal
which preterred
public enquiry approach. has led to some long delays and divisive arguments in some countries, while in others. buze projects with huge overruns and insufficient demand lie wasted; here. large intrastructure developments many doubted (MTR. New Towns, Tunnels etc) have been completed well on
on time anu within budget.