TNAG-2141-FCO40-3060-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 138

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Again, time is very important.

It is

We hope to have the package ready by September this year so that we can invite bids at that time. It is a very, very, important part of it. a complicated crossing, the Lantau Fixed Crossing, so I think the sooner we get on with it the better.

In connection with the Lantau Fixed Crossing, in January we appointed consultants to carry out a design review for this particular part of the project as well as for the North Lantau Expressway. And last month, in March, separate consultants were appointed to carry out a feasibility study for the airport railway. This was to define the alignment and to advise on station location and so on. And as you all know, the MTRC is participating in this particular study.

The other study that will be of enormous importance to us, of great importance, is the study into the financing of the whole project. We do feel that we need to have some advisers assisting us in the overall financial planning.

There have, in this connection, been quite a lot of comments in the press and elsewhere about the affordability of the airport. I think some of those comments, perhaps, stem from a misconception that the government, the public purse, will pay for the lot. Of course, there is no intention to do so.

First of all, the PADS project - I keep using PADS, I should use ADS, but still, in this connection, actually, PADS happens to be correct - it breaks down into several smaller projects. And I would like to give you a rough breakdown of the major components. They have been publicised before but I think it would be useful if you had them on record.

First of all, the expansion of the port facilities that comes to about 50 billion. The airport itself is about 35 billion. The major airport-related links, and that will include the Lantau Fixed Crossing, about 18 billion. number of associated transport facilities, and so on, about 20 billion. And associated utilities provisions, about four

billion.

Then a

So, you get this breakdown of figures. Much of it will be handled by the private sector. For example, all the port facilities will probably he handled by the private sector. As you know, our container port was built exclusively by the private sector in Hong Kong.

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