XN000022-1994-02-03 — Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1994

QUESTION:

MR SIU HAD SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT HE WOULD NOT GO. WHY DID HE CHANGE HIS MIND? (TRANSLATION}

CS: NO, MR SIU NEVER SAID HE WOULD NOT GO. HE SIMPLY, AT THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS A STATEMENT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, MR SIU SIMPLY SAID THAT

HE HAD NOT YET RECEIVED AN INVITATION NOR, INDEED, HAD A DATE BEEN FIXED FOR THE SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION AND THE CAAC. IN THE EVENT, A DATE WAS FIXED AND MR SIU RECEIVED AN INVITATION AND ACCEPTED THE INVITATION AND AS I STRESS AGAIN, WE DO WISH TO CONTINUE THE VERY GOOD CO-OPERATION THAT WE HAVE WITH CAAC IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA.

QUESTION: MRS CHIEF SECRETARY, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT ACTUALLY SORT OF DOWNGRADES HIS VISIT BECAUSE OF THE REFUSAL TO GIVE A BRIEFING TO PWC MEMBERS?

CS: I THINK I WOULD STRESS AGAIN THAT WE HAVE EXCELLENT CO-OPERATION FROM THE CAAC. BOTH SIDES WISH TO SEE THIS CO-OPERATION CONTINUE AND I SEE NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE.

QUESTION: REGARDING THE PROPOSALS FOR THE VIRPORT FUNDING ABOUT WHICH YOU'VE SAID YOU MIGHT SAY A FEW WORDS, COULD You', FIRST OF ALL, SPECIFY EXACTLY WHAT THIS OFFER IS IN AS MUCH AS IT'S HONG PEOPLE'S MONEY, THEY MAY LIKE TO KNOW?

TO

KONG

THE

CS: I WOULD SAY THIS. WE HAVE PUT A FURTHER FUNDING PROPOSAL CHINESE. THIS IS THE FOURTH FUNDING PROPOSAL THAT WE HAVE PUT TO THE CHINESE. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE PROPOSALS FULLY MEET THE CONCERNS THAT THE CHINESE HAVE EXPRESSED TO US SO FAR. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD ASSIST C'S IN GETTING EARLY AGREEMENT FROM THE CHINESE ON FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS IF I CHOSE TO DISCLOSE THE DETAILS NOW. BUT, UNDOUBTEDLY, AT SOME LATER STAGE, WE WILL COME CLEAN WITH THE DETAILED PROPOSALS. YOU HAVE RIGHTLY SAID THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT TO KNOW BUT AT THIS STAGE, WE WOULD VERY MUCH WISH THE CHINESE TO RESPOND WITH AN EARLY MEETING OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE AT WHICH WE CAN SENSIBLY DISCUSS THESE PROPOSALS AND HOPEFULLY REACH EARLY AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT.

CS VISITS HOSPITAL

IMPRESSED

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID SHE WAS BY THE PLEASANT AND SPACIOUS ENVIRONMENT OF THE PAMELA YOUDE NETHERSOLE EASTERN HOSPITAL (PYNEH) AND THE TEAM SPIRIT OF THE STAFF

FOLLOWING A VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

MRS CHAN WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, SIR S Y CHUNG; THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DR E K YEOH; THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, DR KATHLEEN SO; THE HOSPITAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF PYNEH, DR PAMELA LEUNG; AND OTHER SENIOR HOSPITAL.

STAFF

OF THE

/BEFORE THE