XN000022-1992-10-23 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1992

OBLIGATION TO KEEP WORK ON AIRPORT GOING: GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT HIS OBLIGATION WAS TO DO WHAT HE COULD TO KEEP WORK GOING ON THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ON HIS RETURN FROM AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO PEKING, MR PATTEN SAID: "THAT'S WHAT I THINK CHINA WOULD EXPECT OF ME AND IT'S CERTAINLY WHAT HONG KONG WOULD EXPECT OF ME. PEOPLE IN HONG KONG KNOW VERY WELL THAT THERE WILL BE AN AIRPORT, THAT IT WILL BE A VERY GOOD AIRPORT WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.'

ASKED ABOUT COMMENTS THAT CHINA WOULD NOT ALLOW AIRCRAFT TO FLY OVER IT'S AIRSPACE IF HONG KONG WENT AHEAD WITH THE AIRPORT PROJECT WITHOUT CHINESE APPROVAL, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AS RAPIDLY AS WE WOULD LIKE UNLESS WE DID SO AS PART OF AN OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH CHINA AND CHINESE OFFICIALS."

"SO I'M NOT SURE THAT THE QUESTION OF CHINESE AIRSPACE ACTUALLY COMES INTO MATTERS. I THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT ACADEMIC, HE SAID.

"IF OTHER PEOPLE, AND I'LL HAVE TO GO ON SAYING THIS, HAVE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS FOR FUNDING THE AIRPORT BETTER, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US ALL; VERY HELPFUL TO EVERYONE IN HONG KONG FOR THEM то PUT THOSE IDEAS FORWARD, HE ADDED.

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"I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF ALL THAT WE WERE TO HEAR WAS CRITICISM AND NOT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS ON THE AIRPORT OR MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, MR PATTEN SAID.

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"I HAVEN'T INVENTED THE FACT THAT I HAVE ΤΟ BRING FORWARD ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS. I HAVE TO DO THAT," HE SAID.

"IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE MY PROPOSALS I THINK PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WOULD EXPECT THEM TO PUT FORWARD THEIR OWN PROPOSALS, THEIR OWN ALTERNATIVES. ANYWAY WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS IN A CALM AND SENSIBLE WAY AND GO ON SHOWING THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE WHOLLY CAPABLE OF DISCUSSING THESE MATTERS RATIONALLY AND INTELLIGENTLY IN A RESTRAINED AND RESPONSIBLE WAY, HE ADDED.

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