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financial, professional and other business services to
China, and serving as a convenient venue for China to make
business contacts with the rest of the world.
IX PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
(a) The airport
34.
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.
35. Her Majesty's 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 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.
(b) The Port
36. To ensure that the port of Hong Kong provides the facilities necessary to maintain and enhance the Territory's
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