developing the northern portion of Lantau island for industrial and housing purposes either with or without a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok (a Public Works Department task); and
providing a fixed crossing from the mainland to Lantau island, via Tsing Yi and Ma Wan islands (a consulting engineers' task which included the provision of detailed designs and contract documents for all work).
In October 1977 the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the necessary funds for these studies and in view of the implications that (b)(i) and (ii) and the replacement airport would have for one another the Government set up, in September 1978, the 'North Lantau Development Steering Group' to recommend a land-use strategy directed principally at the development of North Lantau for a replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok and for an industrial belt on its north coast. Study. (a) above forms one part of the "North Lantau Transport Access Study" which should be completed by carly 1981. Stage I of the study at (b)(i) above is almost complete and the report has been compiled. Stage II(1), with the airport included, should be completed this year and Stage II(2), without the airport, should be completed by the end of 1981. As regards (b)(ii) above, the engineering feasibility study is finished. Consultants started on the detailed design of the proposed suspension bridge on 1st liay 1980. stage will take about two years. Honourable Members will be asked to advise at the end of 1982, whether construction of the bridge should proceed. Construction work would take about four years and the bridge could be completed by 1986. A tentative outline programme which the Steering Group has compiled in the interim for (b)(i), (b)(ii) and the replacement airport indicates that the time scales of these major projects appear to be compatible. At Annex B is a tentative outline programme for North Lantau development, a replacement airport and a Lantau fixed crossing.
27.
The
This
It is against this background that the present Consultants have been able to conduct their investigations and make their recommendations in accordance with their broad terms of reference referred to in paragraphs 11(b) and (c) above. To progress from the former to the latter the Consultants have had to satisfy themselves that any proposed replacement airport could provide for
G.S. 166
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