11
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE AIRPORT POSITION AT THE CROSSROADS OF ASIA.
WOULD CONFI
CONFIRM HONG
KONG' 3
FROM TIME TO TIME, HE SAID HE HAD HEARD IT SAID THAT HONG KONG DID NOT REALLY NEED A NEW AIRPORT.
TO THOSE WHO ENTERTAIN SUCH DOUBTS, HE WOULD SAY:
IF HONG KONG IS TO CONTINUE AS ASIA'S PREMIER BUSINESS CITY, WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT;
IF HONG KONG IS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND ECONOMICALLY WHEN TAK REACHES CAPACITY BY 1995, WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT;
ΚΑΙ
FOR
IF WE ARE TO WELCOME MORE VISITORS TO HONG KONG AFTER ΚΑΙ TAK HAS REACHED CAPACITY, THEN WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT:
IF WE ARE TO RELIEVE THE LONG-SUFFERING RESIDENTS OF KOWLOON WHO HAVE AIRCRAFT FLYING IN AND OUT OF THEIR LAUNDRY ALL DAY, THEN WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT:
IF WE ARE TO REMAIN AN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CENTRE OF AVIATION, AS PROMISED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, THEN WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT;
AND THE NEW AIRPORT AND ITS RELATED PROJECTS WILL OPEN UP A THOUSAND HECTARES OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT A DEVELOPMENT BOOM THAT COULD ADD 1% TO OUR ANNUAL GDP GROWTH.
—
MR PATTEN SAID THE CASE FOR A NEW AIRPORT WAS OVERWHELMING.
[4
IT WILL BE AN AIRPORT, NOT FOR BRITAIN, BUT FOR HONG KONG AND SOUTHERN CHINA. IT DESERVES TO BE BUILT. AND IT WILL BE BUILT. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT, HE SAID.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SET OUT ITS PLANS AND SPELT THEM OUT IN DETAIL.
"WE HAVE EXPLAINED HOW WE WILL FINANCE THEM. WE HAVE EXPLAINED TOO THAT THE AIRPORT WILL NOT BE FINANCED AT THE EXPENSE OF KEY SOCIAL PROGRAMMES: AS YOU WILL REALISE FROM THIS SPEECH, WE HAVE BEEN AS GOOD AS OUR WORD ON THIS."
TOGETHER THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND MTRC WOULD RAISE LOANS ON WORLD MARKETS IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON PUBLIC FUNDS.
HE SAID IT WAS NOT WITHOUT GOOD REASON THAT THE MTRC HAD EARNED ITSELF A WORLDWIDE REPUTATION AS A RESPONSIBLE BORROWER WITH A STRONG CREDIT RATING.
"
'IN HONG KONG, WE KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT THESE MATTERS. WILL PLOUGH THE FRUITS OF DEVELOPMENT BACK INTO CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
WE
IN
AND WE SHALL BE DRAWING ON OUR OWN CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE COMPLETING SUCH PROJECTS ON TIME AND IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER POSSIBLE."
/THE GOVERNOR