TNAG-2212-FCO40-3172-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1990-1991 — Page 53

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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 would

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.

(b) The Port

A

37. To ensure that the port of Hong Kong provides the facilities necessary to maintain and enhance the Territory's

world trading position, the Hong Kong Government

commissioned a number of studies to forecast demand for port infrastructure and to translate these into development

programmes. The Port Development Board was established in August 1990 and is studying all aspects of the programme. new container terminal began full operation in November 1990, and planning is well advanced for the timely provision

of two more terminals. Further port development has been

planned for the western waters of the Territory and will be the subject of detailed development studies, beginning in early 1991, which will take port planning well into the next

century.

ALAAEV/13

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