5
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1993
"WE MUST DO THIS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE то ISSUR PASSPORTS IN TIME. WE WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE APPLIED FOR THEIR BN(0) PASSPORTS CLOSE SAID.
ΤΟ 1997," HE
"HOWEVER, NOW NO ONE WILL HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR
BDTC PASSPORT
IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO."
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FS EXPLAINS PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER PAA FUNDING
THE MAIN PRIORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT AT THE MOMENT HAS TO BE TO. GET THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (PAA) FUNDED BEFORE THE END OF JUNE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA AFTER BRIEFING THE LEOCO SUB- COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCING OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME (ACP) ON FURTHER ADVANCE FOR THE PAA.
"WHETHER WE ARE LOOKING AT PAA PROJECTS OR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS UNDER THE ACP, THIS MUST BE ONE OF THE FEW MASSIVE PROJECTS IN THE WORLD WHERE WE HAVE CONTRACTS WHICH ARE COMING IN BELOW ESTIMATE AND WHERE WE ARE STILL SO FAR ON TARGET."
H
"WE ARE DEALING HERE WITH A SUCCESS STORY, HE SAID.
HE SAID HE ENTIRELY SYMPATHISED WITH LEGCO MEMBERS' WISH OR SHARED MEMBERS' WISH THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WE SHOULD HAVE THE FULL FINANCIAL PICTURE AND NOT HAVE TO KEEP GOING FORWARD WITH WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY SOMEONE AS PIECEMEAL PROPOSALS.
"BUT WE HAVE TO FACE FACTS AND THE FACT IS THAT, ALTHOUGH WE'VE RESUMED TALKS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, AND I AM SURE THE WILL IS THERE ΤΟ TRY AND REACH AGREEMENT, WE HAVEN'T REACHED AGREEMENT YET AND, MEANWHILE, IT'S VITAL THAT WE KEEP THE PAA GOING.
"EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE LAST FUNDING DECISION ONLY TOOK THE PAA UP TO THE END OF JUNE SO WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD, WE'VE GONE FORWARD WITH WHAT WE THINK IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM UP," HE SAID.
ADVANCE OF
IT
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO SEEK AN ADDITIONAL $564 MILLION FROM THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND TO THE PAA TO ENABLE TO MEET ITS SHORT-TERM HEAD OFFICE EXPENSES AND TO MEET THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS FOR EIGHT CRITICAL AIRPORT DESIGN PACKAGES.
MR
MACLEOD NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO TO WARN MEMBERS THAT THERE WOULD BE INEVITABLY OTHER SUMS OF MONEY REQUIRED IN THE COMING MONTHS, WHETHER FOR GOVERNMENT'S PROJECTS, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS UNDER THE ACP, OR IN DUE COURSE, PAA.
ON THE TALKS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE, HE SAID: EXCHANGING VIEWS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON FINANCING OPTIONS AIM OF HOPEFULLY REACHING ONE WHICH WE COULD AGREE ON.
"WE ARE
WITH THE
"AND, AS