XN000022-1989-05-10 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED SWIFTLY BY APPOINTING SPECIAL ADVISERS IN EUROPE TO ASSIST IN THE FORMULATION OF COUNTER MEASURES.

"LOCAL MANUFACTURERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST THE ANTI-DUMPING INVESTIGATIONS. WE ARE REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THESE EFFORTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.

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AT THE MULTILATERAL LEVEL. MR JACOBS SAID HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS TO PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF FREE TRADE.

"THIS INVOLVES NOT ONLY SECURING AND MAINTAINING ACCESS то WORLD MARKETS FOR MANUFACTURED GOODS. BUT ALSO THE NEGOTIATION OF ACCESS RIGHTS IN THE FIELD OF SERVICES WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG, MR JACOBS SAID.

URGENCY OF MAJOR PROJECTS RECOGNISED

THE GOVERNMENT SHARES THE VIEWS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT EARLY DECISIONS SHOULD BE MADE REGARDING THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT, THE AIRPORT, THE MAJOR HARBOUR RECLAMATION PROJECTS AND THE TERRITORY'S TRANSPORT NETWORK, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"MEMBERS WILL APPRECIATE THAT THE EXPENDITURE INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.

ALL

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"IT IS ONLY RIGHT THAT WE FULLY ASSESS ALL THE IMPLICATIONS BEFORE WE TAKE ANY DECISIONS. BUT AGAIN, I RECOGNISE THE URGENCY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID IN HIS SPEECH CONCLUDING THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1989.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD JUST COMPLETED THE SECOND COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY WHICH HAD RECOMMENDED A SERIES OF ROAD AND RAIL PROJECTS AS WELL AS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT POLICIES.

"THESE WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC OPINION AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER ON TRANSPORT POLICY AND THOSE REGARDED AS ACCEPTABLE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED PROGRESSIVELY, HE SAID.

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AS TO THE AIRPORT, MR JACOBS SAID THE ADMINISTRATION CRITICALLY EVALUATED THE CAPACITY OF KAI TAK AND THE OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.

"AS I HAVE INDICATED BEFORE, A COMPREHENSIVE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME TO ENABLE KAI TAK TO MEET DEMAND UNTIL THE MID 1990S HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER.

"THE CHEK