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4.
The announcement was made following a meeting of the Airport Committee of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group held this morning.
Two Agreed Minutes on the membership and the AA Ordinance were signed by the two sides.
Mr Tsang said with the appointment of the members, the AA Ordinance which was passed by the Legislative Council on July 19 could now be brought into operation.
"This is a major step forward in the development of the new airport," he said.
"The Airport Authority will provide permanent institutional arrangements for the development of the new airport. It will add impetus to the excellent construction work that has begun at Chek Lap Kok."
He said the Airport Authority would be formally established on December 1.
AA and the Government will then sign the Financial Support Agreement to complete the financing arrangements for the new airport.
Separately in two further Agreed Minutes signed at this morning's Airport Committee meeting, the leaders of the two sides also reached a common view on the terms of the franchise agreements to be entered into by AA for the provision of aircraft catering and aviation fuel supply services at the new airport.
The Chinese side confirmed that these agreements shall continue to be valid and shall be recognised and protected by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region after June 30, 1997, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning the Construction of the New Airport in Hong Kong and Related Questions.
Under the terms of the Agreed Minute on Aircraft Catering Services, AA will award franchises to Cathay Pacific Catering Services (HK) Ltd (CPCS), LSG Lufthansa Service Hong Kong Ltd and Gate Gourmet Hong Kong Ltd.
The aircraft catering agreements give the three franchisees the right to construct and operate facilities to provide these services for a period of 15 years from the date that the new airport opens for commercial civil aviation services.
Each of the facilities will differ in site size with CPCS' covering 38,000 square metres; LSG, 23,500 square metres; and Gate Gourmet, 18,000 square metres.