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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1989
HE NOTED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW AIRPORT AND THE ASSOCIATED EXPANSION OF THE PORT AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES OFFERED AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS DEVELOPERS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THESE LARGE-SCALE AND CHALLENGING
PROJECTS.
AS THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME REQUIRED ENORMOUS FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, MR CHENG SUGGESTED THAT THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION LAND FUND SHOULD BE USED TO PARTIALLY FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
BESIDES, AS THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AFTER THE CLOSURE OF THE KAI TAK AIRPORT WOULD BENEFIT THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT,
HE SAID
TO IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SAR GOVERNMENT
SHOULDER PART OF THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF BUILDING THE NEW AIRPORT AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.
TO GUARANTEE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF HUMAN RESOURCES, HE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FURTHER RELAX THE IMPORT OF MANPOWER.
ITS
SAID
AS REGARDS LAND RESOURCES, MR CHENG FULLY SUPPORTED THE CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI RECLAMATION WHICH WOULD PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE HOPED THAT THE RECLAMATION WOULD RELIEVE THE MOUNTING PRESSURE IMPOSED BY THE SKYROCKETING RENTALS AND ATTRACT FIRMS TO UP OFFICES HERE.
SET
TURNING TO THE PROBLEM OF "BRAIN DRAIN", HE SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO PROVIDE HIGHER EDUCATION PLACES.
HE HOPED THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD CONTRIBUTE CONSOLIDATING THE STRENGTH OF HONG KONG TO FACE FUTURE CHALLENGES,
MORE
IN
CHENG
BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC'S COUNCIL, MR WELCOMED IN PARTICULAR THE BREAKTHROUGH· IN LIFTING THE EXISTING 40 PER CENT LIMIT ON DEGREE PLACES OFFERED AT THE TWO POLYTECHNICS.
HE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD OFFER BETTER CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR STAFF IN NON-UNIVERSITY INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED ACADEMIC STAFF.
REGARDING THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW HONG KONG HELP OUR INCREASINGLY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, MR CHENG BELIEVED IT WOULD SOPHISTICATED ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
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