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"Until this step has been taken, no additional flights will be programmed during these hours.
Mrs Bosher said contrary to the assertions of some members who had spoken in support of the motion this afternoon, the discussion was not about whether economic considerations should prevail over environmental concerns.
"It is a question of finding the right point of balance between the two. It is also, in my view, quite wrong to depict the issue as one of big business interests versus the rights of the ordinary man in the street.
"There is no one in this community who does not benefit, in some way, from the fact that Hong Kong is home to one of the most efficient and well-managed airports in the world.
"It is for this reason that the Government has continued to invest in the physical expansion of Kai Tak, to invest in new state-of-the-art navigational and meteorological equipment and in the training of competent airport management and air traffic control staff in order to ensure that the airport functions at maximum efficiency."
End/Wednesday, April 19, 1995
Motion debate on aircraft movements at airport
Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mrs Elizabeth Bosher, in the Legislative Council motion debate on aircraft movements at Kai Tak Airport today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
When the Administration launched a public consultation exercise on 19th December 1994 to assess public opinion on proposals to enhance the operating capacity of Kai Tak Airport, we knew the question we were putting to the community was not an easy one. I am not surprised, therefore, that this evening's debate has produced strongly expressed views both for and against the motion.
A combination of history, sustained economic growth and the rapid pace of urban development in Hong Kong have combined to place the fourth busiest airport in the world - in terms of international passengers and the second busiest in terms of international freight handled - right in the heart of a densely populated city.
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