REPLY
(C)
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1994
THE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANY PLANS TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS OVER AIRPORT FINANCING PLAN?
THE AIRPORT RAILWAY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE OVERALL AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NEVER WAVERED FROM ITS DETERMINATION TO BUILD THE AIRPORT RAILWAY. IT WILL BE BUILT AND I CONFIRM THAT IT REMAINS OUR INTENTION TO COMPLETE IT TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE BY MID-1997, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
NEW AIRPORT.
AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STEP-BY- STEP APPROACH, WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED ON THE CROSS- HARBOUR IMMERSED TUBE SECTION AND IN RECLAIMING LAND NEEDED FOR CENTRAL STATION. IN ADDITION, ADVANCE WORKS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ACP CONTRACTS TO PROTECT THE RAILWAY ALIGNMENT. DESIGN WORK HAS ALSO BEEN WELL ADVANCED AND THE MTRC STANDS READY TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE RAILWAY.
(B)
GIVEN THE STEP BY STEP APPROACH WE HAVE SO ADOPTED, WE EXPECT THAT THE OPENING OF THE KOWLOON CHEK LAP KOK SECTION SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW AIRPORT.
FAR TO
(C)
WE HAVE ALREADY REACHED A COMMON VIEW WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THE MAIN ELEMENTS CONTAINED IN OUR FOURTH FINANCING PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AND THE AIRPORT RAILWAY. WE HAVE BEEN TACKLING THIS SUBJECT AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY AND ARE NOW EXTREMELY CLOSE TO FINALISING THE OVERALL DEAL.
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