XN000022-1992-09-22 — Page 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1992

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GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO AIRPORT PROPOSALS IN GOOD FAITH

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RESPONDED TO CHINESE PROPOSALS ON NEW AIRPORT PROJECT WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS AND IN GOOD

THE FAITH.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD BEEN A LITTLE SURPRISED BY THE REACTION ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT OF ONE OR TWO NEWSPAPERS THAT CUSTOMARILY SEEMED TO REFLECT THE VIEWS OF PEKING.

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I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY THE REPORTED REMARKS OF ANOTHER CHINESE SENIOR SOURCE TODAY, BECAUSE ALL THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT SOME ONE IS PERHAPS TUNING ON THE WRONG WAVELENGTH, HE SAID.

"WE'VE PUT FORWARD THESE PROPOSALS IN GOOD FAITH. WHAT THESE PROPOSALS ATTEMPTED TO DO IS WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD THE CHINESE SIDE WANTED. THAT IS TO INCREASE THE EQUITY IN THE PROJECT AND TO DO SO BY USING THE RESOURCES FROM LAND WHICH ARE PRODUCED BY THE PROJECT, PATTEN SAID.

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AS WE

"WE ALL WANT A COST-EFFECTIVE SERIES OF PROJECTS, JUST WANTED A COST-EFFECTIVE TUNNEL ACROSS THE HARBOUR, JUST AS WE WANTED COST-EFFECTIVE PROJECTS ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG, AND SO FAR, WE'VE BEEN SHOWING COST EFFECTIVENESS AT EVERY TURN ON THIS PROJECT.

"WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS A SECOND-HAND AIRPORT. WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS A SECOND-CLASS AIRPORT. WHAT WE WANT IS AN AIRPORT WHICH ENABLES US TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN ASIA. WE WANT AN AIRPORT WHICH HAS GOOD ROAD AND RAILWAY.

"SO WE WILL GO ON PRESSING FOR AS GOOD AN AIRPORT AS POSSIBLE, AS COST EFFECTIVE AN AIRPORT AS POSSIBLE. AND WE'LL POINT OUT THAT OUR NEW PROPOSALS REDUCE THE TOTAL COST OF THE AIRPORT BY ABOUT $10 BILLION. NOBODY DISPUTES THAT, HE SAID.

"OUR PROPOSALS ENSURE THAT WE CAN BOTH HAVE THE AIRPORT AND THE ASSOCIATED PROJECTS AND COMMIT THE RESOURCES THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WANT TO OUR EDUCATION AND OUR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

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"WE'RE NOT TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER PROJECTS IN ORDER TO FUND THE AIRPORT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO MAKE ALL THE SACRIFICES IN TERMS OF REDUCED PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PROGRAMMES BEFORE 1997 AND THEN TO HAVE ALL THE GAINS MADE AFTER 1997.

"AND IT'S WHY I'M SURE THAT A CHINESE OFFICIAL IS RIGHT TO SAY THE OTHER DAY, THAT IT'S WHOLLY REASONABLE FOR THE LAND FUND TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION IF THE HONG KONG TAXPAYER TODAY IS MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, HE SAID.

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