XN000022-1990-02-08 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1990

BE ABLE

WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK WOULD TO HANDLE 80 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR, THREE TIMES THE CAPACITY OF KAI TAK, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE FIRST OF THE TWO RUNWAYS WOULD BE OPENED BY EARLY 1997.

THE TOTAL COSTS FOR THE PORT AND AIRPORT WOULD BE AROUND $127 BILLION.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

ON THE PROBLEM OF THE BRAIN DRAIN, MR KWONG SAID THE LONG-TERM SOLUTION LAY IN THE EXPANSION OF THE TERRITORY'S HIGHER AND SPECIALIST EDUCATION.

HE POINTED OUT THAT BY 1995 TERTIARY PLACES IN HONG KONG WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 14 PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE-GROUP TO NEARLY 25 PER CENT.

A TRAINING FUND WAS ALSO BEING ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO GIVE MANAGERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

THE SHORT-TERM SOLUTION, HE SAID, HOWEVER, RELIED ON THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE ANNOUNCED RECENTLY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT UNDER WHICH FULL BRITISH PASSPORTS WITH THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK WOULD BE ISSUED TO KEY PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN HONG KONG.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, MR KWONG SAID ASSURANCES FOR THE TERRITORY'S WAY OF LIFE WERE CLEARLY SET OUT IN THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION SIGNED IN 1984.

HE SAID THE DOCUMENT WAS THE BEST DESPITE EVENTS IN CHINA LAST YEAR.

GUARANTEE FOR HONG KONG,

ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, MR KWONG SAID HONG KONG NOW ENJOYED A SEPARATE MEMBERSHIP OF GATT, THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND WOULD CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AS WELL AS THE WORLD BANK.

IN CONCLUSION, HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS KNOWN FOR ITS ABILITY TO ADAPT, NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE, BUT ΤΟ EXPLOIT THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO IT IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, OFFER TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHREWD AND FAR-SIGHTED BUSINESSMEN,

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