XN000022-1995-11-02 — Page 94

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Container terminal developments

The following is a question by the Hon Choy Kan-pui and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):

Question:

Since the Chinese Foreign Minister and the British Foreign Secretary have reached an understanding to seek a solution to the Container Terminal issue in the territory, will the Government inform this Council whether it has submitted or is planning to submit in the near future a new proposal to the Chinese side, so that the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group can discuss the new proposal and come to a decision early; if so, when has it submitted or when will it submit the new proposal?

Reply:

Mr President,

We are much encouraged by the consensus reached by the Foreign Ministers of China and the United Kingdom that progress should be made on our container terminal developments.

These are matters which we have raised consistently at the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group for the last two years.

We have been discussing with the Chinese side a number of ways in which we might be able to make progress. We are clearly anxious to establish common ground so that an early resolution to the problem can be achieved. We will continue to press for a solution and are working hard to achieve this end.

End/Thursday, November 2, 1995