TNAG-2143-FCO40-3062-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 232

5.

CHINA'S CONCERN ABOUT THE PROJECT

This HK$127 Billion project is the largest in the history of Hong Kong. Its implementation will exceed 1997 and will involve funding from both the public and private sector. It will have a far reaching effect on the Hong Kong people in more ways than one, even well after Hong Kong become a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. The Secretary General of the Communist Party in Beijing, Mr. Jiang Ji Min, expressing concern, has publicly stated that the project is not to be a case of "You are inviting the guests and I will have to pay for the banquet".

China's main concerns, as we gather from their team of experts, are :-

(1) Whether the public has been fully briefed or consulted on the facts, costs and the implications of the PADS SCHEME. After all, it is the Hong Kong public who would ultimately have to pay for it.

(2)

Are the proposals basically sound? Are the HK$127 Billion (actually 163.6 Billion) estimate a reasonable one? Could there be savings? Are there safeguards about cost and time overruns?

Certain academics have also published papers expressing doubts on the suitability of Chek Lap Kok as the replacement airport site, and cited perhaps Deep Bay to the west is a more suitable location. In any case, most international banks have expressed concern. Unless there is blessing from China there will be no loans extended to the project, as the repayment schedule will extend into the next century, well after 1997.

This is a sharp contrast with Macau Airport: China has on several occassions given its blessing, and confirmed its willingness to co-operate to make the project a success.

For the Hong Kong "ROSE GARDEN" project to be successful, Hong Kong must seek China's blessing and co-operation. But Hong Kong can only go to China and ask for these blessings and co-operation if the public has been fully informed and agrees that the PADS SCHEME is a logical one and its method of implemention a good one.

In other word, the most important project for Hong Kong should be undertaken with the principle of :

CONSULTATION and not BY CONSULTANTS.

GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT

BY

6. A RATIONAL EXAMINATION OF THE PADS PROPOSAL

Since the replacement airport and the port developments are so vital to the economic workings of Hong Kong, it would be advantageous to have the Scheme built at an economical cost as early as possible. The following is an attempt to analyse whether the PADS proposal and its method of implementation are the most economical, or even logical.

(A)

AIRPORT LOCATION

In the Consortium's search for a suitable location of the replacementairport within the confines of Hong Kong's boundaries, consideration was given to these factors :-

Interphase and interference with Shenzhen and Macau Airports

(1)

Suitability in aeronautic terms.

(2)

(3)

(4)

#

(5) (6)

Noise and environmental impact.

Accessibilities for the airport users.

Disruption to existing facilities.

Cost-benefit aspects: whether costs can be shared by a land development-airport-port-transport development strategy.

Four different sites were eventually considered :

SITE (1) LAMMA ISLAND SITE (2) DEEP BAY AREA SITE (3) CHEK LAP KOK

SITE (4) WESTERN HARBOUR-HEI LING CHAU AREA

Each location has certain advantages and disadvantages. No single location has all the pluses and no minuses.

SITE (1) LAMMA ISLAND though aeronautically the best was ruled out the earliest because it would need to relocate Hong Kong Electric's Power Station at a great cost and time. Hong Kong Island cannot last a day without electricity.

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