XN000022-1995-07-02 — Page 5

4

True for China because, while I'm sure Hong Kong wants everything to go well after '97, while Hong Kong wants to make its own contribution to the continuing successful opening up of China, it does need some more reassurance that everything really will be all right, that Hong Kong's way of life, Hong Kong's success story will continue.

There are a lot of sceptics around, doubters and pessimists. Here and outside. Given the chance Hong Kong will prove them wrong. But China has to trust Hong Kong with that chance. It's not much to ask. After all, it's what's been promised. And to fulfil Hong Kong's promise for the future it's essential that that promise is kept.

End/Sunday, July 2, 1995

ACP works forge ahead

The Airport Core Programme (ACP) is now entering its peak construction stage, with 62 per cent of the Government ACP works completed so far.

"Excellent progress is being made on all 10 of the ACP projects. Overall, including the airport and airport railway, about 35 per cent of the works has been completed," the Director of the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, Mr Billy Lam, said today (Sunday).

He said ACP works had forged ahead in the past six months with 42 more major contracts valued at about $23 billion had been awarded.

"The ACP projects are rapidly taking shape and are becoming more visible as the months go by," he said.

Mr Lam said the agreement with the Chinese side last Friday on the financial support agreements for the airport and airport railway and the franchises for the provision of air cargo services for the new airport was a major step forward in the ACP.

"On the basis of the continuing progress of the ACP, we are confident that the seven projects directly funded by the Government together with the Western Harbour Crossing project will be completed before June 30, 1997.