XN000022-1991-09-08 — Page 2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1981

APPOINTMENT OF CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE STILL UNDER DÍScussion: cs

THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE To THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY IS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAU AFFAIRS OFFICE, MR LU PING, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE 1907 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER GHOST CHARITY PARADE IN SHA TIN, SIR DAVID SAID: "I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY. THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THE MOMENT."

THE

TURNING TO HIS WEEK-LONG VISIT TO JAPAN, WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW, CHIEF SECRETARY SAID A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF JAPANESE COMPANIES WERE INTERESTED IN THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.

SIR DAVID SAID HE WOULD BE TALKING TO JAPANESE COMPANIES AND ALSO PARTICULARLY, TO JAPANESE BANKS.

"IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE BUILDINd of THE AIRPORT TO HAVE JAPANESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF it. AND WITH THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IT'S A VERY GOOD TIME FOR ME TO GO, I THINK, AND TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE AIRPORT," HE SAID.

SIR DAVID ALSO NOTED THAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO THE AIRPORT PROJECT WAS GOOD: "I THINK WITH THE CHINESE SUPPORT SO CLEARLY STATED IN THE AGREEMENT, I'M SURE THAT THIS WILL PRODUCE A VERY GOOD RESPONSE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT."

WHEN ASKED TO RESPOND TO PRESS REPORTS THÁT DR DAVİD

DAVID OWENS MIGHT BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID: "I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT SPECULATION AT ALL SERIOUSLY.

"WHEN THERE ARE SENIOR POSITIONS, THEY'RE ALWAYS SUBJECT SPECULATIONS. NINE TIMES OUT OF 10 THE SPECULATION Is WRONG, "

SAID.

TO

HE

MR JOHN

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE PRIME MINISTER, MAJOR, HAD SAID THAT THERE WASN'T A VACANCY FOR THE GOVERNOR of HONG KONG.

"AND IF I MIGHT SAY SO, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK WOULD Adkßß WITH ME, SIR DAVID WILSON IS A FINE GOVERNOR. HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR US ALL AND THE LONGER HE STAYS THE BETTER, " HE ADDED.

ON THE PROGRESS OF THE BCCHK ISSUE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE INVESTIGATION WAS STILL GOING ON: "WE ARE ANXIOUS NOT TO RAISE HOPES TOO HIGH BUT WE ARE STILL PUTTING THE ESTIMATE AT AROUND 50-50 AND WE WILL HOPE THAT, CLEARLY WE WOULD LIKE THAT SALE TO GO THROUGH. IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD SOLUTION FOR ALL CONCERNED.

"WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO FACILITATE IT, BUT IN THE END IT'È A MATTER FOR THE BUYER TO MAKE SURE THAT HE IS SATISFIED WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE SEES IN THE BOOKS OF THE BANK AND SO ON," SIR DAVID SAID.

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