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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994
CONTAINER TERMINAL 9 PROJECT
FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY DR THE HON SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION: THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN LATE 1992 THAT IT WOULD ENTER INTO NEGOTIATION WITH THREE CONSORTIA ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR BERTHS OF CONTAINER TERMINAL 9, INCLUDING DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS OF THE PROJECT, LAND PREMIUM AND OTHER MATTERS. HOWEVER, THE PROJECT HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALISED UP TO THE PRESENT MOMENT, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:
(A) WHETHER ANY TENTATIVE AGREEMENT OR ORAL UNDERTAKING HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE THREE CONSORTIA OVER THE TERMS OF THE PROJECTS, AND IF SO WHETHER THERE 15 ANY VALIDITY PERIOD FOR SUCH AGREEMENT OR UNDERTAKING; AND
(B)
WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANY CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS UNDER SUCH AGREEMENT OR UNDERTAKING?
ANSWER
MR PRESIDENT,
(A)
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN LATE 1992 THAT IT WOULD EMBARK UPON NEGOTIATIONS WITH A CONSORTIUM COMPRISING HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS LTD, MODERN TERMINALS LTD AND TSING YI CONTAINER TERMINAL HOLDINGS LTD ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A PRIVATE TREATY GRANT FOR CONTAINER TERMINAL 9. WE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSORTIUM IN JUNE 1994 ON A NON-COMMITTAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE BASIS. NO FORMAL AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED AND THERE IS NO VALIDITY PERIOD FOR THE AGREEMENT REACHED.
(B) THE QUESTION OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS DOES NOT EXIST
AS EXPLAINED ABOVE.
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