XN000022-1993-06-10 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1993

ITS

THE PAA NEEDED THE FUNDS BY THE END OF THIS MONTH TO COVER HEAD OFFICE EXPENSES FOR A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS FROM THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND TO PROCEED WITH EIGHT CRITICAL AIRPORT DESIGN PACKAGES.

"NINE MONTHS RUNS TO THE END OF THE PAA'S CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, AND IS, I HOPE, A SUFFICIENTLY LONG PERIOD то SUSTAIN STAFF MORALE AND ENABLE THE PAA TO MAINTAIN ITS FINANCIAL AND CORPORATE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY, AND PUSH AHEAD WITH ITS OPERATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL PLANNING," HE SAID.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EMPHASISED THAT THE

GOVERNMENT'S AIM OF WAS TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT WE HAD HAD WITH THE AWARD CONTRACTS AND TO AVOID THE DELAYS AND RISING COSTS THAT WERB INEVITABLE IF WE DID NOT PRESS ON.

Tr

"TO THAT END, I HOPE THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL IN DUE COURSE APPROVE THE FUNDING, AND THAT WE REACH AGREEMENT WITH CHINA, HE SAID.

EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE RESULTS OF A REGULAR OPINION SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IN MAY SHOWED THAT 65 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY HAD CONFIDENCE THAT HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE BE PROSPEROUS AND STABLE, COMPARED WITH 60 PER CENT IN MARCH.

THE TO

A SECOND POINT WAS THAT 75 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS WERE

WITH SATISFIED

CENT THE PRESENT SITUATION, COMPARED WITH 68 PER

IN

MARCH, HE SAID.

"I DOUBT IF THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT COULD ACHIEVE SUCH HIGH POSITIVE PERCENTAGES," HE SAID.

GOVERNOR IN LEGCO

FOLLOWING IS A

STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RT CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY):

MR PRESIDENT, HONOURABLE MEMBERS,

HON

WE SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF OUR TIME IN THIS COUNCIL DISCUSSING CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. AND RIGHTLY So.

THEY ARE, OF COURSE, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

OF OUR

BUT SO TOO ARE OTHER SUBJECTS NOT LEAST THE SUBJECT ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL. WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY LAST SATURDAY REMINDED US ALL THAT WE HAVE THIS PLANET ON TRUST NOT TO PLUNDER, BUT TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE.

-

MY

I MADE PLAIN MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT IN POLICY SPEECH LAST OCTOBER. I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT. I AM KEEN THAT WHEN I LEAVE HONG KONG, THE TERRITORY SHOULD BE IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL STATE THAN WHEN I ARRIVED AS GOVERNOR ALMOST A YEAR AGO. WE

HAVE ALREADY MADE SOME PROGRESS. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. SINCE LAST JULY, WE HAVE:

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