XN000022-1993-01-28 — Page 2

STATEMENT ON CT 9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1993

COMMENTING ON A

CHINA NEWS SERVICE REPORT ON CONTAINER TERMINAL 9, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY):

"THE ESTABLISHED FORM FOR ENABLING THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CONTAINER TERMINALS IN HONG KONG IS A LAND GRANT. NO OTHER CONTRACT OR FRANCHISE IS INVOLVED.

"CT 9 IS NO DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS CONTAINER TERMINALS WHERE WE HAVE SIMPLY AGREED THE LAND GRANT FOR INCLUSION IN THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME BY THE LAND COMMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ANNEX III OF THE JOINT DECLARATION,

"SECTION VIII OF ANNEX I OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ALSO MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR THAT PRIVATE CONTAINER TERMINALS MAY CONTINUE TO OPERATE FREELY AFTER 1997.

"DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIVATE DEVELOPING CT 9 ARE PROGRESSING WELL.

CONSORTIA

INTERESTED IN

"WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION THAT THE CHINESE SIDE MAY HAVE ON THESE MATTERS."

STATEMENT ON CATHAY PACIFIC DISPUTE

* * * * *

FOK, SAID TONIGHT

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MRS KATHERINE (THURSDAY) THE DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT OF THE CATHAY PACIFIC DISPUTE.

THE COMMISSIONER CONSIDERS THAT AT THIS JUNCTURE OF THE DISPUTE, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INVOKE THE PROCEDURES IN THE LABOUR RELATIONS ORDINANCE WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL CONCILIATOR.

ON

THE

SHE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THESE PROCEDURES WERE BASED PRINCIPLE OF VOLUNTARISM AND THERE WAS NO COMPULSION ON BOTH PARTIES TO COME TO A SETTLEMENT.

A

THEREFORE, IN THE CURRENT SITUATION THE EFFECT OF APPOINTING SPECIAL CONCILIATOR WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF A VOLUNTARY CONCILIATOR WHO HAD SO FAR ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN THE WHOLE DISPUTE.

A SPECIAL CONCILIATOR CANNOT COMPEL THE PARTIES TO COME TO A SETTLEMENT OF THEIR DIFFERENCES.

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