XN000022-1976-10-13 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976

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PLANS FOR A NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL

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THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY THAT TENTATIVE PLANS HAD NOW BEEN SUBMITTED FOR A NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL INCORPORATING A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.

HE SAID SEA-BED INVESTIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROJECT HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND DETAILED COST ESTIMATES WERE NOW BEING PREPARED.

MR. MCDONALD WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THE EXISTING FACILITIES AT THE TERMINAL OBSOLETE, AND WHETHER PLANS FOR NEW FACILITIES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT AN EARLY DATE.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THE EXISTING FACILITIES WERE FAR FROM IDEAL, BUT THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN BROAD AGREEMENT WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER REGARDING THE BUILDING OF A NEW TERMINAL IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX ABOVE IT.

CONSTRUCTION COSTS WERE NOW BEING WORKED OUT AND WOULD

BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY.

+WHEN THEY ARE AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEVELOPER IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO FINALISE ARRANGEMENTS, + HE SAID.

+THE WAY WILL THEN BE CLEAR FOR THE DEVELOPER TO SUBMIT FORMAL BUILDING PLANS AND FOR WORK TO COMMENCE ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE TERMINAL, HE ADDED.

REPLYING TO A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION, MR. MCDONALD SAID THE DEVELOPER HAD NOT YET PRODUCED A PROGRAMME OF WORKS BUT THE COMPANY HAD STATED THAT IF THE SCHEME PROCEEDED ACCORDING TO PLAN WORKS ON SITE WOULD START NEXT YEAR.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM DR. FANG, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THAT THE RECEIPTS FROM THE EMBARKATION FEE PAYABLE BY PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO MACAU WERE $7.41 MILLION FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1976.

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