XN000022-1991-09-09 — Page 2

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1991

GOVT ENCOURAGES MAXIMUM PRIVATE PARTICIPATION IN AIRPORT PROJECTS: CS

* * * * *

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS AIMING FOR THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.

SPEAKING ΤΟ REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE DEPARTING FOR A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO JAPAN, SIR DAVID SAID THE AIRPORT PROJECT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECT BEING UNDERTAKEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS INCUMBENT UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO COULD TAKE AN INTEREST IN THE PROJECT KNEW ALL ABOUT IT.

HE SAID THERE WERE MANY WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE

IN THE PROJECT.

"THEY CAN HELP WITH THE CONTRACTS BY BUILDING SOME OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS: THE BRIDGE, THE ROAD, THE AIRPORT AND SO ON. AND ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROJECTS ARE NOT JUST THE BUILDING OF THEM, BUT ALSO THE SERVICES WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM: COMMUNICATIONS, COMPUTERS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS AND SO ON.

"PEOPLE CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE BY UNDERTAKING ONE OF THE BUILD- OPERATE-AND-TRANSFER PROJECTS SUCH AS THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING,

HE SAID.

"THEY

CAN PARTICIPATE BY PROVIDING DEBT, LOANS TO BITHER THE GOVERNMENT

THE RAILWAY. OR THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, OR TO AND SO THERE ARE A VAST NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CÂN

" SIR DAVID ADDED. PARTICIPATE, THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN PARTICIPATE,

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THIS WAS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR THE PROJECT: "BECAUSE HAVING PLANNED IT FOR SO LONG, WE'RE NOW TESTING THE REAL PRIVATE SECTOR INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT.'

SIR DAVID SAID HIS TRIP TO JAPAN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THẤT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE MAKING AND MR RICHARD ALLEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, WOULD GO TO LONDON WEEK.

NEXT

WILL BR

"I'M

TO LONDON IN OCTOBER, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL GOING OTHERS, WE ARE NOT SIMPLY SINGLING OUT JAPAN," SIR DAVID SAID.

"BUT JAPAN IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE FOR US, IN PARTICULAR IN JAPAN FINANCIAL TERMS. WE BELIEVE THAT THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN WILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE THERE FIRSTLY, HE ADDED.

*T

GOING

"I'M Not I'M ALSO THE

DAVID SAID HE HAD A VERY INTERESTING PROGRAMME : SIR ONLY SEEING BANKERS AND CONSTRUCTORS AND THE CONSORTIUM, SEEING THREE MINISTRIES: THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FINANCE. DEPARTMENT

TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AND THE MINISTRY OF OF CLEARLY ALL THOSE WE NEED THEIR FIRM SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT.

AND

IN

IT,

"

"IN ADDITION, I'M SEEING PARLIAMENTARIANS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST HONG KONG. SO IT SHOULD BE A BUSY WEEK; WE'RE LOOKING

HE ADDED.

FORWARD TO

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