XN000022-1990-10-14 — Page 2

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1993

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GOVERNOR HOPES EXPERTS WILL HAVE OPEN MIND IN DISCUSSIONS

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID LAST NIGHT (SATURDAY) THAT NEW AIRPORT HE HOPED THE CHINESE EXPERTS WHO ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE PLANS, WOULD COME TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH AN OPEN MIND.

SPEAKING

FOR

OF THE AIRPORT

TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE HIS EUROPEAN TOUR, SIR DAVID SAID HE ALSO HOPED: "AT THE END PROCESS THEY WILL UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF ALL THE NEED FOR THIS FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND SECONDLY THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IT AS WE HAVE."

"PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE HAVE BEEN PREPARING VERY CAREFULLY THESE DISCUSSIONS AND WE'LL TAKE THE CHINESE EXPERTS THROUGH IT, BY STEP VERY CAREFULLY.

FOR

STEP

"EXPLAINING THE REASONS FOR NEEDING AN AIRPORT; NEEDING AN WE HAVE AIRPORT то BUILD FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND WHY

BE TAKEN THE VIEW WE HAVE ABOUT WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND HOW IT SHOULD BUILT," THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THE

A

SIR DAVID SAID ALL THE BACKGROUND TO THE REASONS FOR BUILDING FIXED WERE VERY WELL KNOWN, AND THAT THE BUILDING OF AIRPORT

THAT WAS A BRIDGE OR A TUNNEL TO LANTAU WAS NOT SOMETHING

CROSSING,

NEW.

ACTUALLY LINK

"I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DECISION WHICH WAS TAKEN TO UP WITH LANTAU ABOUT A YEAR AGO," HE SAID.

MAKE

то

TENDERING WHAT WE'VE SIMPLER WON'T BE

"ON OCTOBER 5, EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING AN

A ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH ORIGINALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN EXERCISE FOR A BUILD AND OPERATE OPERATION, AND IN FACT DONE IS ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL FINANCE IT IN A DIFFERENT, MUCH WAY.

WHICH MEANS THAT THE WHOLE TENDERING PROCESS ACTUALLY TILL JANUARY," HE ADDED.

THE "I

A.

ASKED то COMMENT ON A DECISION BY POSTMEN TO PETITION BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THEIR REQUEST FOR BETTER PAY, SIR DAVID SAID: HEARD THAT THE POSTMEN HAD DECIDED TO CALL OFF WHAT WAS GOING TO BE SIT-IN AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY SENSIBLE ATTITUDE FOR THE POSTMEN TO TAKE.

IP

MADE "THE DECISIONS ON PAY ARE MADE IN HONG KONG. THEY ARE NOT

PETITIONING THE IN

THERE IS NO POINT WHATSOEVER IN PEOPLE LONDON,

WITH, BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS WHICH ARE FOR HONG KONG TO DEAL HE ADDED.

HE

THE GOVERNOR SAID DURING HIS VISITS TO ROME, PARIS AND BRUSSELS AND SENIOR WOULD BE MEETING A NUMBER OF SENIOR POLITICAL LEADERS BUSINESSMEN.

/"THE REASON

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