WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992
MR MACLEOD STRESSED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO:
*
OPERATE STRICT COST CONTROLS OF ALL ACP PROJECTS;
RESPOND CONSTRUCTIVELY TO SPECIFIC AND REASONABLE FOR INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION ON THE ACP; AND
REQUESTS
*
MAINTAIN A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ON THE AWARD OF ALL CONTRACTS.
"AN IMPRESSIVE MOMENTUM HAS DEVELOPED IN RECENT MONTHS AS DESIGN WORK HAS ADVANCED, TENDERS INVITED, CONTRACTS AWARDED, AND WORK STARTED ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, " HE SAID.
**I BELIEVE THAT ALL CONCERNED UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS MOMENTUM TO BE SUSTAINED. TO LET IT FALTER OR SLIP WOULD BE EXPENSIVE AND WOULD UNDERMINE CONFIDENCE IN THE ACP, AND MAKE BORROWING MORE DIFFICULT.'
H
MR MACLEOD WAS REPLYING TO A MOTION THAT CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT ACP EXPENDITURE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MATERIAL EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, AND THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE SAFEGUARDED.
ACP
HE REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PROJECTIONS SHOWED THAT THE WOULD TAKE UP ABOUT 25% OF TOTAL ESTIMATED GOVERNMENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE PROGRAMME ITSELF WOULD ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
HONG KONG'S SUCCESS HAD BEEN BUILT ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUCH VISIONARY PROJECTS AS THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNELS, SAID MR MACLEOD.
"IF WE HAD NOT TURNED SUCH VISIONS INTO REALITY, HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY, NOR WOULD IT BE POISED FOR THE GROWTH OF THE COMING YEARS.
"NOW THE VISION IS A NEW AIRPORT TO TAKE US INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, SERVED BY A RAILWAY, NEW HIGHWAYS, AND A THIRD HARBOUR TUNNEL. THESE ROAD AND RAIL FACILITIES WILL PROVIDE THE FAST ROAD AND RAIL TRANSPORT NEEDED BY A MODERN CITY AND AIRPORT OPERATING ROUND THE CLOCK."
OTHER SOCIAL BENEFITS FROM THE PROGRAMME'S ROAD, RAIL AND OTHER PROJECTS WOULD INCLUDE:
* RELIEF FOR THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC FROM ROAD AND
CONGESTION ON ROUTES THROUGH WEST KOWLOON;
RAIL
RAPID ACCESS TO TSING YI AND THE NEW TOWNS PLANNED FOR NORTH LANTAU:
ACCESS IN 30 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL AND KOWLOON TO THE RECREATIONAL AREAS OF LANTAU;
* IMPROVED LIVELIHOOD