XN000022-1995-03-17 — Page 7

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He said the Chinese Government had forecast lower economic growth for this year. "But at 8 per cent to 9 per cent it will still be very high by international standards," he said. "And you can add to this the fact that OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has forecast growth for the United States and the European Union.

"And then there is the significant progress that has been made towards freer international trade.

"It is always useful to remember that not so long ago, many people doubted whether the Uruguay Round would be ever concluded or that APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) would be more than a talking shop.

"So, overall, there are good reasons to be cautiously optimistic about our prospects," he said.

End/Friday, March 17, 1995

First tunnel unit successfully placed in position

Work on the Western Harbour Crossing reached a major milestone this morning (Friday) when the first immersed tube tunnel unit was successfully lowered into position on the seabed off Sai Ying Pun.

Mr Eric Glenville, Chief Engineer for the Western Harbour Link Office of the Highways Department, said: "This is the first of the 12 tunnel units which will be lowered and joined to form the 1,363 metres long immersed tube tunnel."

The Western Harbour Crossing, which links Sai Ying Pun on Hong Kong Island and reclaimed land in West Kowloon, is one of the 10 projects in the Airport Core Programme. It is being developed under a 30-year build-operate-transfer franchise awarded by the Government to the Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited in September 1993.

When completed in mid-1997, the crossing will provide three traffic lanes in each direction and be Hong Kong's third cross-harbour road tunnel.