TNAG-2790-FCO40-4029-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 57

{

Issue

Objective/explanation

Secretary for Economic Services (Cont'd)

- 5

Present status/progress

China interest*

UK interest*

X

Airport Corporation Bill

Localisation of

civil aviation legislation

The Bill will establish the Airport Corporation and give it powers to provide and operate the new airport.

To localise UK enactments on civil aviation currently applied to Hong Kong.

(c) Chinese to be given preliminary

briefing on airport franchises in October/November. Final negotiations with franchises for two most urgent ones cargo and aviation fuel need to start in January 1994. Chinese support will be needed.

-

The Bill was passed to the Chinese side of the Airport Committee for comment on 21 July. They wish no public consultation to take place yet and are likely to need some time to comment.

The drafting of a first stage civil aviation bill is at a fairly advanced stage. The Chinese side have been consulted on the scope of the bill and a response from them is awaited. The option of introducing the bill without waiting for a response was reiterated at JLG XXVII. Action is being taken in parallel to start work on the remaining UK enactments which need to be localised. Draft consultation paper on localisation of the Carriage by Air Orders have been cleared with FCO; CAB is preparing the paper for handing over to the Chinese.

The

X

X

legislationto

be enacted will extend beyond 1997.

CONFIDENTIAL #B

E

X

CONFIDENTIAL **