Answer: Mr Yeung:
core
First of all, I can't necessarily guarantee that they will all be Chinese. But the first batch of workers will probably be required a few months before actual construction begins. But they would be very specifically related to the airport. programme. In other words, they would be hired by the
the successful contractors, and they are not to be used for the general labour market. They will be contract specific.
Question 17: How many will there be Mr Yeung?
I have just mentioned a figure early on,
two
Answer: Mr Yeung: thousand I said.
Question 18: Are you going to start off right away with that number? Are you going to bring them in phases? Or are you going to start off with two thousand?
Answer: Mr Yeung: something of an annual an annual quota. Department how that And thereafter it is
That depends on the contractor. We will have quota. The Immigration Department would have The government will advise the Immigration quota is quota is to be distributed amongst contractors. up to contractors to arrange.
Would it be
Question 19: Can I ask you something about tendering? acceptable, or is it your aim, to spread the contracts in terms of the nationalities of companies. Will there be any form of national allocation in these contracts?
Answer:
I cannot speak for the Provisional Airport Authority, but as far as the government is concerned, as far as government works are concerned, government works contracts are concerned, we do not favour any nationality over another. Our approach is on the basis of maximum value for money and maximum transparency.
Mrs Chan:
Can I add to that. Mr Yeung cannot speak on behalf of the Provisional Airport Authority. But as a member of the Provisional Airport Authority I think I am speaking on behalf of the entire authority when I say that we will continue with the normal government practice, which is that we operate a level playing field. We award contracts and licences on the basis of what is the most effective, the best value for money irrespective of nationalities, politics and anything else.
cost
Question 20: If it so happened, and this is obviously hypothetical, that all the companies that offered the best value were Japanese would that be acceptable?
Answer: Mrs Chan:
I find that very difficult to believe. I think that there must be, you know, when you are comparing and evaluating tenders, there must be difference. But we will award on the basis of what we believe to be the best company to do it in the most cost- effective manner and that the government or the Provisional Airport Authority will be getting the best value for money.
Question 21: What I am getting at is whether a political element
will enter this.
CLAT
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