XN000022-1993-05-27 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1993

AIRPORT MEETING SET FOR JUNE 4

THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES HAVE AGREED THAT A MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD IN HONG KONG ON JUNE 4 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ON FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT PROJECT.

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CS WELCOMES AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID HE HOPED THAT AGREEMENT WOULD BE REACHED ON THE AIRPORT SO THAT A WAY FORWARD COULD BE FOUND.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES LOBBY TODAY (THURSDAY), HE WELCOMED THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH WOULD BE HELD NEXT WEEK.

"IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE CERTAINTY IN THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT AND THE RAILWAY WHICH WILL GIVE EVERYBODY RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN THE PROJECT TO ENABLE US TO PRESS AHEAD WITH IT."

DESCRIBING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE MEETING AS VERY WELCOMED NEWS, HE SAID EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WOULD BE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR IT.

ASKED ABOUT A THIRD PROPOSAL ON THE AIRPORT FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS, SIR DAVID SAID: "WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING VARIOUS FINANCING PROPOSALS INFORMALLY WITH THE CHINESE SIDE FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS."

"I AM PLEASED NOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FORMAL MEETING THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE IN WHICH THESE PROPOSALS CAN BE TAKEN FORWARD.

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BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL

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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL, INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 10 THIS YEAR, IS A PURELY TECHNICAL PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO PUT THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION IN PLACE SO THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS IN TIME FOR THE 1994 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

PASSAGE OF THE BILL WILL IN NO WAY PREJUDGE THE OUTCOME OF CURRENT SINO-BRITISH TALKS IN BEIJING.

THE

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