SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1990
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LOOKING BACK AT THE PORT DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, SHE SAID THE ENORMOUS GROWTH HAD BEEN ACHIEVED LARGELY BY UTILISING THE STRENGTHS OF HONG KONG'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO INVEST IN CREATING THE LAND FOR CONTAINER TERMINALS, GIVING THEM ADEQUATE ASSURANCES THAT THEY COULD MAKE REASONABLE RETURNS ON THAT INVESTMENT AND HENCE THE CONFIDENCE TO PLOUGH THEIR PROFITS BACK INTO THE INDUSTRY.
"AS A GOVERNMENT WE HAVE LARGELY KEPT OUT OF THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING AND OPERATING THE ELEMENTS OF PORT INFRASTRUCTURE OURSELVES.
"WE HAVE LEFT THAT TO THOSE WHO
REALITIES.
BETTER UNDERSTAND
"
COMMERCIAL
"BUT WE ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN PLANNING, IN SAFETY AND, OF COURSE, CERTAIN SECTORS OF CARGO HANDLING, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THESE INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF BUOYS AND ANCHORAGES; AND OF CARGO WORKING AREAS, SHE SAID.
"
MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN BUOYS, BUT IT WAS QUESTIONING ITS CONTINUED ROLE IN PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS.
THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY CONSULTANTS INDICATED A LARGE INCREASE IN REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS, WHICH WERE UNLIKELY TO BE MET EFFICIENTLY USING EXISTING METHODS OF OPERATION, SHE SAID.
PRIVATE SECTOR
POINTING OUT THAT THE TRANSPORT CHAIN FOR GOODS WORKED VERY WELL EFFICIENTLY WITHIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MRS CHAN SAID THERE MIGHT BE SCOPE FOR ALLOWING THE
TO HAVE A ROLE IN THE OPERATION OF PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS SINCE THEY FULFILLED COMMERCIAL NEED.
A
"CONSULTATION WITH STAFF ON THIS COMMENCED SHORTLY AFTER LUNAR
ALL NEW YEAR. EARLIER THIS WEEK THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE ADDRESSED
140
CARGO WORKING USERS OF THE PUBLIC
AREAS SREKING THEIR VIEWS AND
ADVICE AS TO THE BEST WAY FORWARD.
"WE HOPE TO BE
MOST EFFICIENT WAY OF AREAS, SHE SAID.
**
ABLE TO TAKE A VIEW LATER THIS YEAR
PROVIDING
AS ΤΟ THE FOR FUTURE PUBLIC CARGO HANDLING
J
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