+
J
Арсет
FISANCE
белька
SPEECH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
THE HONOURABLE HAMISH MACLEOD
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 13 MAY 1992
43
PS/ Mir Patten JPS/M facelled
Mr flum
нка 182/17
A
cogent defence of the
Ampar
Project
Mr Deputy President,
The theme running through some contributions to this debate
is that the ACP costs a lot, that it is likely to cost far more than we in the Government are prepared to reveal or admit, and that these costs will increasingly deprive the public of social services and other public works.
2.
There have been other claims in this Chamber or elsewhere that we are withholding information, and that we are favouring British construction companies and consultants when awarding contracts.
3.
A concern to ensure cost effectiveness and reduce the risks of cost overrun is entirely reasonable, and indeed one that I share wholeheartedly. But the other subsidiary themes,. alleging a lack of information and contract favouritism, I reject totally and will answer first.
4.
Over the last six weeks we have released a great deal of financial and other information. On April 2, we published our overall ACP costs paper. That was followed by detailed papers on the costs of the Airport Railway and of the new airport itself. Last week, when we announced the Tsing Ma Bridge construction contract, we revealed perhaps more information than ever before on the tenders and on the reasons for our decision.
5.
This is real transparency and I welcome it. At the same time we have presented these papers and explained their contents to the LegCo Ad Hoc Group, the Airport Consultative Committee and the public through the media. This effort has involved representatives of the Provisional Airport Authority and the MTRC, as well as the Government.
29/5
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.