XN000022-1993-07-12 — Page 5

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MONDAY, JULY 12, 1993

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO PUT THE FUNDING REQUEST ΤΟ THE LEGCO SUB-COMMITTEE ON ACP ON THURSDAY AND TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HE SAID.

HE HOPED THAT APPROVAL COULD BE OBTAINED THIS LEGCO SESSION.

BEFORE THE END OF

ON

THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN KEEPING AIRPORT PROJECTS TIME, HE SAID, ADDING: "PROVIDED WE ALSO GET THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING LEGISLATION THROUGH THIS SESSION."*

"IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN GET APPROVAL FOR THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING THROUGH IF WE ARE ΤΟ MAINTAIN MOMENTUM ON THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME AND I BELIEVE, IF WE HAVE TO RETAIN CONFIDENCE OF INVESTORS IN SUCH PROJECTS, FUTURE PROJECTS IN HONG KONG.

"IT WILL BE TAKEN AS QUITE A BAD SIGN IF THIS PROJECT DOES NOT GET THROUGH, HE SAID.

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THE TENDER THEN HAD TO BE PUT AWAY AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE HOW ELSE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROJECT, HE POINTED OUT.

"IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE FOR THE TAXPAYERS IF WE ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF TAXPAYERS' FUNDS.

"I AM VERY ANXIOUS THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN,

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HE SAID.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE ITS BEST ΤΟ LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS.

HE NOTED THAT THERE WOULD BE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY PROFITS ABOVE THE CEILING LEVEL WOULD BE PUT ASIDE IN RESERVE TO FUTURE TOLL INCREASES LESS LIKELY.

GOOD

MAKE

HE DESCRIBED THIS AS AN "IMAGINATIVE STEP".

TOLL

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT THE BURDEN OF THE WOULD FALL LESS HEAVILY ON BUS PASSENGERS AND MORE ON PRIVATE CARS, WHICH HE REGARDED AS A REASONABLE ARRANGEMENT AS THE LATTER WERE BETTER ABLE TO PAY FOR IT, HE ADDED.

CONCEDING THAT THERE WERE CRITICISMS FROM LEGCO MEMBERS ABOUT THE PROJECT, HE HOPED THAT IN THE END "THIS VITAL PROJECT FOR HONG

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KONG" WOULD GET THROUGH.

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