TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1994
QUESTION: A LOT OF SPOKESMEN FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES IN HONG KONG MAKING SOME OF THE CRITICISMS OF (INAUDIBLE).
MRS ANSON CHAN: I THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE UNQUALIFIED AND ENTHUSIASTIC REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. I THINK AS USUAL, YOU HAVE A MIXED REACTION.
THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS IS NOT JUST ON POLITICAL ISSUES AND ON COOPERATION WITH CHINA - ALTHOUGH IT IS A CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT FACTOR, BUT THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS ALSO INCLUDED A WHOLE PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING OUR SOCIAL WELFARE, OUR MEDICAL AND HEALTH, OUR EDUCATION FACILITIES.
ARE THE
NOW THESE ARE MATTERS THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE INTERESTED
IN,
AND I BELIEVE THAT ON THE WHOLE, REACTION TO PROPOSALS AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE FORWARD THE SOCIAL OBJECTIVES, REACTION TO THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD IN IMPLEMENTING PAST PLEDGES, AND WE HAVE A 94 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE, WHICH IS A VERY HIGH SUCCESS RATE HAS ON THE WHOLE BEEN REASONABLY FAVORABLE. BUT OF COURSE AS USUAL, PEOPLE IN A WAY ARE NEVER SATISFIED. THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE AND AT A QUICKER PACE! BUT WE KNOW THAT RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED; RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE SPENT IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.
+
BUT WE DO TAKE SATISFACTION IN THE FACT THAT GIVEN OUR VERY STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO A WHOLE RANGE OF SOCIAL
HEALTH AND WELFARE PROGRAMS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO 30 GIVEN SUSTAINED ECONOMIC GROWTH.
——
QUESTION: I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS SUCH AS THE AIRPORT ARE GOING.
MRS ANSON CHAN: THE AIRPORT WE WERE REFERRING EARLIER ON TO THE FACT THAT REGRETTABLY WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON THE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO A DEAL; TALKS ARE GOING ON BETWEEN EXPERTS ON BOTH SIDES, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT SHORTLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE.
IN THE MEANTIME OF COURSE NOTWITHSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AN AGREEMENT
WE HAVE IN FACT MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN CONSTRUCTING THE AIRPORT.
WE
HAVE ALREADY RECLAIMED TWO-THIRDS OF THE AIRPORT PLATFORM FROM THE SEA. WE HAVE ERECTED THE TOWERS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR THE LONGEST COMBINED ROAD AND RAIL SUSPENSION BRIDGE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
—
IN
THE GOVERNMENT
PROJECTS - INSOFAR AS THE GOVERNMENT
THE WHOLE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAM IS CONCERNED - IS MAKING EXTREMELY GOOD PROGRESS. SO FAR WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LET EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET, AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS TRACK RECORD.
SO ON THE WHOLE, MAKING SUBSTANTIAL AND VERY GOOD PROGRESS ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAM.
17