WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1990
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AIRPORT PLAN A KEY STRATEGIC DECISION
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THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK IS A KEY STRATEGIC DECISION FOR HONG KONG'S LONG TERM PLANNING, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN SAN FRANCISCO ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
ADDRESSING A JOINT LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND SAN FRANCISCO WORLD TRADE CLUB, SIR DAVID SAID THAT THE DECISION TO BUILD THE NEW AIRPORT UNLOCKED SEVERAL OTHER DECISIONS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE PORT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OVERCROWDED OLDER PARTS OF THE CITY.
MUCH OF THIS WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, ALMOST ALL OF THE PORT FACILITIES WOULD BE PRIVATELY FINANCED, BUILT AND OPERATED, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS HOW HONG KONG WORKED: GOVERNMENT PROVIDED THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEFT BUSINESSMEN READ THE SIGNALS OF THE MARKET PLACE.
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"THEY READ THEM BETTER THAN BUREAUCRATS," HE ADDED.
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CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ITS OPEN MARKET ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY, WAS INVITING: INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT.
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"AMERICAN FIRMS HAVE TENDED IN THE PAST TO SHY AWAY FROM IN THE MISTAKEN BELIEF THAT BRITISH COMPANIES WERE GIVEN PREFERENCE.
HONG
"BOTH BECHTEL AND GREINER HAVE FOUND THIS NOT TO BE THE CASE AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPETED AGAINST A VARIETY OF FOREIGN FIRMS FOR PARTS OF THE PROJECT," HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LOOKED FORWARD TO MORE AMERICAN INTEREST IN ALL OF HONG KONG'S PROJECTS FROM DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO FITTING, FINISHING AND THE SUPPLY OF PARTS AND EQUIPMENT.
SIR DAVID STRESSED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DID NOT FORGET THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN ITS LONG-TERM PLANNING EITHER.
HE OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR DRAMATIC GROWTH IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER 430,000 HOMES BY THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ON TOP OF THE THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION THE GOVERNMENT HAD BUILT SO FAR.
"WE HAVE JUST PUBLISHED A BLUE PRINT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR WELFARE PROGRAMMES AND ANOTHER ON THE CARE AND REHABILITATION
SOCIAL OF THE HANDICAPPED WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT YEAR.
"WE STRONGLY BELIEVE IN PLANNING TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL STAY IN HONG KONG, FOR WHOM HONG KONG IS HOME AND WHO WANT THE BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
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