XN000022-1992-10-01 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1992

DEVELOPMENTS

OUTLINING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURAL AND VARIOUS ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE TERRITORY, SHE SAID: "HONG KONG'S PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

OR PADS AS IT IS IS A BOLD STATEMENT OF OUR INTENTION TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF CONTINUING ECONOMIC GROWTH."

USUALLY KNOWN

"THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME COMPRISES 10 PROJECTS AT A TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ABOUT US$20.5 BILLION. WE ARB COMMITTED то COMPLETING AS MUCH OF THE WORKS AS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

"

'BUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW AIRPORT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THESE PROJECTS WILL CONSTITUTE ONLY ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF TOTAL GOVERNMENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE,

H MRS CHAN SAID.

PORT EXPANSION WOULD CONTINUE WITH CONSULTANTS ALREADY COMMISSIONED TO ADVISE ON FURTHER PORT DEVELOPMENT ON LANTAU ISLAND, SHE SAID,

"THE STUDY EMBRACES NOT ONLY PROVISION FOR CONTAINER TERMINALS, BUT ALSO EXAMINES REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS, TYPHOON SHELTERS, SHIP REPAIR AND DOCKYARD FACILITIES, TOGETHER WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF ESSENTIAL PORT SERVICES, SUCH AS TUGS AND PILOTS.

"ITS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH A COHERENT AND FLEXIBLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH WILL SATISFY ANTICIPATED PORT NEEDS FOR THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS AND BEYOND, SHE EXPLAINED.

SHE NOTED THAT IN THE PIPELINE WERE MAJOR PROJECTS FOR WASTE DISPOSAL ; A MAJOR PROGRAMME OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AND UPGRADING OF SEWAGE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS; FURTHER INVESTMENT IN NEW TOWNS; CONSTRUCTION, REDEVELOPMENT AND REPROVISIONING OF HOSPITALS AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

"AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE OUR AIM IN ALL AREAS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT WILL BE TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BOTH IN THE FORM OF DIRECT INVESTMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE, AND THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CONTRACTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS."

"WE IN HONG KONG ARE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OUR ECONOMY IS OF THE MOST OPEN IN THE WORLD, [ SHE SAID.

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ONE

PROJECTS

"WHEN IT COMES TO TENDERING FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE OPERATE A SYSTEM THAT IS TRANSPARENT, FAIR AND WITHOUT NATIONAL BIAS.

"OUR AIM IS TO GET THE BEST PRODUCT FOR THE BEST PRICE TO COMPLETE MAJOR PROJECTS ON TIME AND WITHIN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET,

|| SHE STRESSED.

"IN THESE RESPECTS, I THINK OUR RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. FOR EXAMPLE, A REVIEW OF CONTRACTS AWARDED TO DATE FOR PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT WOULD REVEAL THAT THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS, MANY OF WHICH

ARE

MULTI-NATIONAL JOINT VENTURES, INCLUDE REPRESENTATION KONG, CHINA, UNITED KINGDOM, NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES, SHE ADDED.

FROM HONG AUSTRALIA,

MRS CHAN SAID HONG KONG WELCOMED AN EXPANDING CANADIAN ROLE HONG KONG'S TASK OF BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE WITH A FIRM SENSE OF PURPOSE AND A COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS.

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