RESTRICTED
IX PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
34. The Hong Kong Government have continued to implement the Port and Airport Strategy. Port development is mostly financed by the private sector, while the airport, with its considerable associated infrastructure, will be financed y both the Government and the private sector.
(a) The airport
35. Good progress was made on the new airport and related infrastructure projects in the course of 1990. A number of engineering, feasibility and financial studies were commissioned and some of the first work contracts were also let. A Provisional Airport Authority was established in April to take forward planning and development. This will be replaced by the Airport Authority proper in late 1991 or early 1992. In October 1990, the Hong Kong Government announced that they would finance the building of the Lantau Fixed Crossing linking the airport with urban Kowloon. This Crossing comprises two major structures, one of which, the Tsing Ma Bridge, will rank amongst the world's foremost suspension bridges.
36. The Government and the Hong Kong Government have sought to encourage the Chinese Government to support the project. During Mr Francis Maude's visit to Peking in July 1990 the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Li Peng, acknowledged that Hong Kong needed a new airport but made it clear that the Chinese Government could not give a substantive view until their own experts had assessed the feasibility of the project. A team of Chinese experts visited Hong Kong in October 1990 for a detailed briefing on the financial and technical aspects of the project. Two further rounds of expert talks were held in Peking in January and March 1991. The Governor also discussed the airport with Chinese leaders when he visited. Peking on 21-23 January, and again with Lu Ping when he visited Hong Kong in March.
ALAAEV/13
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.