XN000022-1994-10-05 — Page 45

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994

39

AIRPORT FINANCING STILL TO BE RESOLVED

STILL

TO

BE

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

SET OUT EXAMPLES OF ISSUES TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RESOLVED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SUCCESS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE, AND MR PATTEN CITED THE FOLLOWING:

MORE

THAN

ON OUR

NEW

OF

AN

*

AFTER MORE

DISCUSSIONS THREE YEARS OF AIRPORT SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE 1991 MEMORANDUM UNDERSTANDING, WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONCLUDE AGREEMENT ON THE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THIS COUNCIL, WE HAVE NEVERTHELESS ROLLED OUR SLEEVES UP AND FOR THE 21ST GOT ON WITH THE JOB OF BUILDING AN AIRPORT CENTURY.

HAS MADE SERVICES

DESPITE YEARS OF TALKS, THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP ONLY LIMITED PROGRESS ON THE REMAINING AIR AGREEMENTS WHICH WILL ALLOW THE WORLD'S AIRLINES TO FLY TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997.

THE

BY

REACHING то ENSURE

WE NEED TO EASE CONCERNS IN

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS ON THE RIGHT OF ABODE. WE ALSO NEED THAT WE MAXIMISE THE EASE AND FREEDOM OF TRAVEL OF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.

ON THE HAVE

WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAINER TERMINAL 9 FOR REASONS WHICH

FUTURE WORRYING

THE TERRITORY'S INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR BUSINESS. WHILE WE MARK THIS PROJECT, THE SHIPPING BUSINESS GOES ELSEWHERE.

IMPLICATIONS

FOR

AS AN TIME ON

THE

OF

AGREED,

WE HAVE MADE ONLY SLOW PROGRESS ON THE VITAL ISSUES OF LOCALISATION AND

LOCALISATION ADAPTATION OF LAWS. THE SOME 89 UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS STILL NEEDS TO BE AND WE WILL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THE 600 LOCAL AND 1000 PIECES OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION IN THE EXERCISE. AND WE HAVE TO TAKE FORWARD THE ESTABLISHMENT THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL.

ORDINANCES ADAPTATION

OF

30

MEETINGS

MR PATTEN NOTED THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES HAD HELD PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND HUNDREDS OF AT EXPERT LEVEL.

AMONG THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST DECADE, REACHED AGREEMENT:

SIDES THE TWO

HAVE

UP

* ON DEFENCE LANDS, UNDER WHICH 140 HECTARES OF LAND WORTH

TO $65 BILLION WILL BE RELEASED TO THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE MORE HOUSING, SCHOOLS, PARKS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES;

ON

AND

FRANCHISES, BEYOND 1997,

APPROACH A COMMON

TO EIGHT IMPORTANT

CONTINUE LICENCES WHICH WILL CONTRACTS INCLUDING THE SCHEME OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS FOR OUR TWO POWER COMPANIES;

/* ON HONG