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AIRPORT
CNA: Many papers today carried a signed commentary by the HK China News Agency which warned against a possible cost overrun in connection with the construction of the new airport. The commentary said that the inceasant upward revision of the cost of the airport had led to worries among the public that it would turn out to be a "bottomless pit" project and that HK people might be forced to shoulder an enormous debt. It also pointed out that recent instances on the bidding and awarding of the airport-related projects and contracts gave the public an impression that there was favouritism for British companies. Indeed there was a need for the Government to release detailed information on the tendering of these projects and their related contract documents to enable the public to monitor the situation.
FS: Wah Kiu Yat Po reported in a lead story that the FS, Hamish Macleod, would at a Legco meeting tomorrow refuted criticisms against the spending arrangements for the airport and its growth in costs. He would also comment on remarks by the Chinese side on the airport issue recently. Meanwhile, an official admitted that the Government had underestimated the costs of the railway link to the new airport. But he told the paper that the effect would be significant if the railway link was scrapped.
Chan: A senior lecturer in economics at the Baptist College, Thomas Chan,
in an interview with the CNA criticised the calculation method for the costs and returns of operating the airport railway link, noting that if the proposal was used as a base for investment, it was likely to be a wrong choice.
Cheng: According to the HK Commercial Daily, some members on the Airport Consultative Committee had expressed opposition to the financial arrangements relating to the construction of the airport. One of them, Cheng Yiu-tong, said that he had already written to Chinese leaders asking them not to accept the package. However, a NAPCO spokesman said that Mr Cheng's view did not represent the stand of the committee.
UDHK: Albert Chan of the UDHK would move a motion debate in Legco tomorrow to seek Government guarantee that expenditure
on the airport core programme would not affect public spending on social services and other public works projects, the media reported in routine coverage. Speaking at a press conference, Mr Chan said that the administration had been less than forthcoming on how much of the projects would be from private funds. He proposed that the growth of public spending relating to people's livelihood should not be lower than the economic growth in the territory.