XN000022-1990-05-17 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1990

APPOINTMENT OF FINANCIAL ADVISER FOR

LANTAU FIXED CROSSING AND AIRPORT RAILWAY PROJECTS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPOINTED KLEINWORT BENSON LTD AS FINANCIAL ADVISER FOR THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING AND AIRPORT RAILWAY PROJECTS.

A TRANSPORT BRANCH SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY): "KLEINWORT BENSON LTD HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE PRIVATISATION OF MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS.

"THE FIRM HAS ACTED AS FINANCIAL ADVISER TO SIMILAR PROJECTS IN THE UK. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THEIR APPOINTMENT WILL GREATLY ASSIST GOVERNMENT IN THE INVITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING FRANCHISE.

"THE TRANSPORT BRANCH IS PLANNING TO ISSUE SUCH INVITATION IN LATE SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL ADVISER REPRESENTS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THIS PRIVATISATION EXERCISE."

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE AIRPORT RAILWAY WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A DUAL SERVICE

AIRPORT AN EXPRESS AND DEDICATED SERVICE FOR PASSENGERS AS WELL AS A COMMUTER SERVICE.

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"THE AIRPORT SERVICE WILL, ENABLE PASSENGERS TO HAVE A CONVENIENT, FAST AND RELIABLE ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT, AND AT THE SAME TIME GREATLY REDUCE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON ROADS, GENERATED BY THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC.

"ITS COMMUTER SERVICE WILL ALSO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON THE TSUEN WAN LINE.

MTR

THE

"THE FINANCIAL ADVISER IS EXPECTED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH CONSULTANTS OF THE AIRPORT RAILWAY FEASIBILITY STUDY WHICH IS NOW UNDERWAY AND TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE FINANCIAL STRATEGY FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT."

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS APPOINTED

*

FORMER DEPUTY MR WALES,

JOHN

AND DIRECTOR

THE DIRECTOR OF THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE AND A

ENGLAND FOR PROSECUTIONS PUBLIC DIRECTOR OF

NEW WOOD, HAS BEEN APPOINTED PROSECUTIONS FOR HONG KONG.

AS THE

OF PUBLIC

PROSECUTIONS

OF THE SERIOUS

MP WOOD, 59, HAS MORE THAN 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN WORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IS THE FIRST DIRECTOR FRAUD OFFICE.

/MR WOOD