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PORT DEVELOPMENT CRUCIAL: FS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1991
IN
THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT WILL BE A CRUCIAL FACTOR MAINTAINING THE PROSPERITY OF OUR ECONOMY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, MR MACLEOD SAID THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY SELECTED FOR THE PORT INVOLVES, FIRST, THE EXTENSION OF CONTAINER PORT FACILITIES IN THE KWAI CHUNG/STONECUTTER/TSING TI AREA.
"AT TSING YI, THE TECHNICAL
FEASIBILITY
STUDIES
HAVE BEEN
CONCLUDED.
"HOWEVER, BEFORE WE EMBARK ON ANY INDIVIDUAL PROJECT, WHICH IS ENORMOUS IN TERMS OF CARGO THROUGHPUT AND COST TALKING IN TERMS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
MAKE WE ASSESSMENT OF NEED, LOCATION AND ALTERNATIVES.
EACH OF WE ARE
—
A FINAL
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"IN THE CASE OF TSING YI WHERE THERE ARE GENUINE LOCAL: CONCERNS ON GROUNDS OF TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AN ASSESSMENT IS NOW UNDERWAY," HE SAID.
THE STRATEGY ALSO INVOLVES CONSTRUCTING NEW DEEP WATER PORT FACILITIES ONCE THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING IS AVAILABLE, ACCORDING TO MR MACLEOD.
"WHATEVER THE DECISION ON TSING YI, WE WILL QUITE SOON NEED THE LANTAU FACILITIES.
"DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW LANTAU PORT WILL PRESENT A CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGE
IT IS A GREENFIELD SITE WHICH PRESENTLY HAS NO SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
"BUT WE HAVE TACKLED SUCH PROBLEMS SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE AND HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE TO FALL BACK ON," HE SAID.
STUDY
REFERRING TO THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PADS), MR MACLEOD SAID WHEREAS THE NEW AIRPORT AND ITS ACCESS LINKS HAVE FINITE TARGET DATES, THE NEW PORT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON AN INCREMENTAL BASIS AS ADDITIONAL DEMAND BUILDS UP.
"IF GROWTH IS SLOW, THEN THE BUILD-UP OF THE PORT FACILITIES WILL BE PHASED OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME BUT USING THE MASTER PLAN AS THE BASIS FOR DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.
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ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S PORT DEVELOPMENT, MR MACLEOD SAID THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S POSITION AS A LEADING MARITIME CENTRE IS ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION AND
THE BASIC LAW.
/"THESE QUARANTEE