XN000022-1990-03-14 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1990

MUCH PREPARATORY WORK DONE ON AIRPORT PROJECT

MUCH PREPARATORY WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE WITH A VIEW ΤΟ ENSURING THAT THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK CAN BE OPERATIONAL IN 1997, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SIR PIERS WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY BILL 1990 WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY,

HE SAID THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WOULD BE SET UP ΤΟ TAKE FORWARD THE NECESSARY PLANNING AND PREPARATORY WORK PENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AIRPORT AUTHORITY WHICH WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK.

SIR PIERS SAID THAT AFTER ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY.

"ONCE ESTABLISHED, THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY WILL BECOME THE DEDICATED VEHICLE TO TAKE OVER THE NECESSARY PLANNING AND PREPARATORY WORK FOR THIS MAJOR PROJECT," HE SAID.

SIR PIERS SAID THE BILL SET OUT THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY'S DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS ONCE IT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED.

THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY'S MAIN FUNCTION WOULD BE TO UNDERTAKE WHATEVER TASKS WERE NECESSARY IN ESTABLISHING THE NEW AIRPORT.

"TO PROVIDE A CORPORATE FRAMEWORK THROUGH WHICH THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY MAY ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVE, THE BILL SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE ITS OWN STAFF, то ACQUIRE PROPERTY OR LAND, TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS OR OTHER AGREEMENTS, TO RECEIVE AND EXPEND MONEY, AND TO EMPLOY CONSULTANTS OR OTHER ADVISERS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ASSIST IN THE TASK OF PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE AIRPORT.

"TO MEET THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY'S EXPENDITURE, ENVISAGED THAT PUBLIC FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED INITIALLY.

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**NEVERTHELESS, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE PROVISIONAL TO BORROW AND FOR GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES TO BE GIVEN IN RESPECT OF MONEY RAISED IN THIS WAY," HE SAID.

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SIR PIERS SAID THAT WHILE IT WAS PRUDENT ΤΟ INCLUDE THESE PROVISIONS, IN PRACTICE, IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT BORROWINGS WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED UNTIL AFTER 1992 WHEN THE MAJOR EXPENDITURE ON THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME CAME ON STREAM.

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