XN000022-1991-09-10 — Page 5

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1991

CHIEF SECRETARY IN JAPAN

*

* *

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) HE IS VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST SHOWN BY THE JAPANESE IN HONG KONG'S NEW AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND THE OTHER CORE PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERALL PLAN.

SIR DAVID IS IN JAPAN AS HEAD OF A HONG KONG DELEGATION ΤΟ BRIEF JAPANESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, FINANCIERS AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LEADERS ON THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.

"EVERYWHERE WE'VE BEEN TODAY, WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN THE PROJECT FROM BANKERS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FROM CONTRACTORS, FROM COMPANIES INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE FRANCHISE. ALL HAVE BEEN VERY POSITIVE AND VERY ENCOURAGING.

"I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE PROJECT IS SEEN HERE

HERE AS ONE OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE IN THE REGION, NOT JUST AS AN AIRPORT AND PORT FOR HONG KONG, BUT AS AN AIRPORT AND PORT FOR SOUTHERN CHINA AND As GATEWAY INTO CHINA FOR THE WHOLE OF THE REGION. I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH INTEREST, " SIR DAVID SAID.

HE SAID THE SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE NEW AIRPORT HAD PROVIDED A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE TO INVESTORS IN JAPAN AND THE UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FROM CHINA, WHICH APPEARED IN THE MEMORANDUM, HAD ALSO BEEN A BIG FACTOR IN THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

SAID THE

SIR DAVID WHO LAST VISITED JAPAN 18 MONTHS AGO

AGO SAID INTEREST IN HONG KONG HAD CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

"IN ALL THE MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD TODAY AND THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET, THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE FROM GENERALLY POLITE QUESTIONS OF 18 MONTHS AGO, TO SEARCHING QUESTIONS ABOUT DETAILS OF THE PROJECT, COST, AND FINANCIAL STRATEGY. THAT IS A RECOGNITION OF THE VERY REAL INTEREST WE ARE NOW ENGENDERING IN THE PROJECT.'

||

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SINGLING OUT JAPAN FOR SPECIAL BRIEFING TREATMENT.

"OBVIOUSLY IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SIMILAR VISITS ΤΟ EUROPE, THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. IN FACT, MR ALLEN (MR RICHARD ALLEN, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY) IS GOING TO THE UK NEXT WEEK AND WILL BE SEEING SIMILAR GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

"THIS IS A VERY NECESSARY ELEMENT IN GAINING WIDESPREAD UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT, SİR DAVID ADDED.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE HONG KONG DELEGATION SPENT THE DAY MEETINGS WITH TOP JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN INCLUDING BANKERS CONTRACTORS, STEEL MANUFACTURERS AND SHIPPING OPERATORS.

IN

THERE WAS ALSO A MEETING WITH THE PARLIAMENTARY VICE-MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR SHOUZABURO JIMI.

/DURING THEIR