8.
The
Administration
with the MTRC to
that
will shortly start negotiations
ascertain the type and level of financial
support
the Government would need to provide to the
Corporation if the Airport Railway is to start operation immediately on the opening of the airport. Subject to the
outcome of the negotiations, the Adminstration will seek the
advice of the Executive Council on when the Airport Railway
should be commissioned.
9.
The Government's
financial consultancy on the new airport is continuing and a draft final report is expected at
the end of this year. Recent work, in which the Provisional
Airport Authority (PAA) have been closely involved, has focussed on ways of improving the commercial viability of the
airport project through:
10.
(a) a modular and phased approach to construction to
reduce costs associated with commissioning the
initial phase of the airport;
(b) a more. commercial approach to enhancing revenues
from privatized facilities and from real estate
development.
The present plan assumes that:
(a) all major on-airport facilities, except the passenger terminal, will be funded and operated by the private sector. On the passenger terminal,
private sector investment will be encouraged in
those areas which would not impair the
strategic flexibility and
Authority's
airport's efficient operation;
the