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Mr Jimmy McGregor: Sir, I would like to ask you, if I may, about the present situation of CT9. I think it fits in one or two of these headings. I didn't mean, Sir, as a sick
parrot.
Governor: I don't have anything to add to what I have said in this Council and outside before. We put forward proposals for constructing and running CT9 which in our view, and I think when we put them forward in the view of many Members of this Council and many members of the community outside, represented the best balance available between on the one hand increasing competition in the port, while on the other hand being able to move ahead with the development as rapidly as possible. We handled that issue as we have handled other infrastructural developments it was handled exactly the same way as several other container terminals had been handled - and we don't intend to politicise the handling of these matters in Hong Kong which would, we think, have appalling implications for investors' confidence and for our future prosperity. So we have nothing to add at present to what I've set out as our position in the past.
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But obviously we keep a concerned eye on growing congestion in the port. We recognise that we not only have to get on with CT9 but also with CT10 and CT11 and we will do everything we can in the interests of the long term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong to continue to develop our port on which so many jobs as well as so much of our prosperity depend.
Mrs Elsie Tu: Thank you Mr President. My question is actually a follow-up and it is so simple it won't take more than a one word answer. Would the Governor be surprised if I told him that for once I totally agree with his interpretation of the CFA in the Basic Law and that I have not changed my stance since 1991?
Governor: I'm delighted to find myself in complete agreement with the Honourable lady. I hope this will be a harbinger of better and happier times. I shall certainly keep my fingers crossed that that is the position.
End/Thursday, December 8, 1994
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