XN000022-1992-01-31 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1992

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE WIDENED TSING YI SOUTH BRIDGE WILL BE IN PLACE BEFORE THE COMMISSIONING OF THE FIRST BERTH OF CT9," HE SAID.

"FINALLY, GENEROUS PROVISION WOULD BE MADE FOR BACKUP AREAS FOR THE PARKING, STORAGE AND REPAIR OF CONTAINERS AND VEHICLES AND FOR THE PROVISION OF OFF-ROAD FREIGHT HANDLING FACILITIES IN THE NEW CONTAINER TERMINAL. THESE WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE LONG QUEUES OF CONTAINER VEHICLES ON THE ROADS AND COULD WELL ELIMINATE ILLEGAL LORRY PARKING IN THE TSING YI ESTATES," HE SAID.

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MARINE DIRECTOR WELCOMES CONTAINER TERMINAL 9 CONSTRUCTION

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR

TONY MILLER, TODAY (FRIDAY) WELCOMED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DECISION TO PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF CONTAINER TERMINAL NO. 9 ON TSING YI ISLAND.

SPEAKING AT A DINNER HOSTED BY THE HONG KONG SHIPPING CIRCLE, MR MILLER SAID: "OBVIOUSLY, I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS REMOVES UNCERTAINLY OVER PORT EXPANSION.

"IT IS GOOD NEWS FOR TRADERS AND SHIPPERS ALIKE, THOSE WHO WORK IN THE PORT. IT CONFIRMS THE PORT

INDUSTRY. IT MEANS MORE JOBS FOR PORT AND PORT-RELATED A WHOLE.

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DECISION. IT

AND FOR ALL AS A GROWING INDUSTRIES AS

THROUGHPUT

NOTING THAT THE GROWTH IN CONTAINERS

IN 1992 WAS WELL AHEAD OF THE 14 PER CENT TREND GROWTH RATE, MR MILLER SAID: "THROUGHPUT LAST YEAR WAS UP 22 PER CENT. DEMAND REMAINS HIGH AND, WITHOUT NEW FACILITIES COMING ON STREAM ON TSING YI IN 1995, THE SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COPE.

"WHILE I SYMPATHISE WITH THE CONCERN OF RESIDENTS ON TSING I THINK A GOOD DEAL CAN BE DONE THROUGH APPROPRIATE PLANNING DESIGN TO MEET THOSE CONCERNS,

PORT

YI, AND

"AS A PORT MANAGER, I AM SIMPLY RELIEVED THAT WE WILI. NOT NOW FACE CONGESTION AND DIVERSION OF TRADE IN THE PERIOD BEFORE THE ROAD LINK TO LANTAU ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF FACILITIES THERE."

MR MILLER EXPRESSED HIS OPTIMISM ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH THE PORT.

OF

"HONG KONG S GEOGRAPHIC POSITION AND SHELTERED DEEP WATER HARBOUR MAKE IT THE NATURAL CENTRE FOR SHIPPING ON THE SOUTH CHINA COAST.

/"THE PEARL

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