XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 35

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME KEEPS PACE WITH PROSPERITY

THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) UNDERLINED THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT THAT THE AIRPORT AND THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME, WHICH CONSISTS OF 10 PROJECTS IN TOTAL, WOULD ABSORB ONLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF HONG KONG'S TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE DURING THE SIX YEARS NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR BLAKE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROGRAMME WOULD IN PART BE FUNDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHILE OTHER PARTS SUCH AS THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION AND THE WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY WERE NOT EXCLUSIVELY TRANSPORT-AIRPORT-RELATED PROJECTS AND IN THE NORMAL WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME,

THE

"THEY ARE IN FACT AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, FURTHER OPENING UP

WESTERN PART OF THE TERRITORY," HE SAID.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

AS A

"GIVEN OUR POLICY OF CAPPING TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTED GDP GROWTH, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOME PROJECTS HAVE BEEN REPHASED.

IS

"THE DISCIPLINE OF PROJECTS COMPETING FOR LIMITED RESOURCES NOT NEW, AND HAS A SALUTARY EFFECT IN CONTROLLING PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE.

"NEVERTHELESS, THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS CONTINUING AT A RATE THAT OUTSIDERS CONTINUE ADMIRE," HE SAID.

ΤΟ

ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, MR BLAKE SAID IT CONTINUED TO GROW AND KEEP PACE WITH THE INCREASING PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY.

"THERE ARE OVER 2,000 PROJECTS CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAMME; EXPENDITURE HAS INCREASED AT AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 15 PER CENT IN TERMS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

AND

REAL

TO

"EXPENDITURE FOR THE NEXT THREE FINANCIAL YEARS IS FORECAST

AND REACH $18.7 BILLION, $21.2 BILLION

$24.2 BILLION RESPECTIVELY, EXCLUDING EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC HOUSING.

"NOT ONLY HAS MUCH BEEN ACHIEVED IN TERMS OF THE SIZE AND IN TERMS SPEEDING UP THE PROGRAMME, WE HAVE ALSO MADE GREAT PROGRESS OF QUALITY," MR BLAKE NOTED.

"IF WE ONLY LOOK AT OUR THIRD GENERATION NEW TOWNS, TSEUNG

THE PROJECT

PAMELA KWAN O AND TIN SHUI WAI, AND ANOTHER WORLD CLASS

ARE PROCEEDING ON YOUDE HOSPITAL, ALL OF WHICH

PROGRAMME, WE RIGHTLY BE PROUD OF THESE EXAMPLES OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, HE ADDED.

CAN

/ON MEMBERS *