XN000022-1996-05-30 — Page 28

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"There is no question of compromising our fiscal autonomy by working with the Chinese side," he said.

Mr Tsang said he expected next year's Budget to be as successful as the one for this year.

"We will move forward through the budgetary process on the basis of rapid consensus on each major issue at it arises, and with this the normal budget preparation timetable will be followed," he added.

End

Award of Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the award of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air to an Aircrewman of the Government Flying Service, Mr Raymond Chang Yao-teng.

The commendation will be officially announced in the Government Gazette tomorrow (Friday).

Mr Chang was the winchman of a Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopter which was tasked to rescue a seriously injured crew member of a fishing boat on Christmas morning 1995.

When the helicopter arrived at the fishing boat 125 nautical miles east of Hong Kong the conditions were very difficult. The wind was 30 to 35 knots from the north east and gusting to a much higher speed and the sea was extremely rough with waves estimated at 20 feet from trough to crest.

In addition, the fishing boat, which had few clear areas on which Mr Chang could make a winched landing, was pitching and rolling wildly through 20 to 30 degrees.

Mr Chang's first attempt at landing on the fishing boat only resulted in him being "dunked" in the very rough sea. Shortly after this unsuccessful attempt a radio message was received from the fishing boat that the casualty would die if he did not receive hospital treatment.