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The independent team to be set up to look into the operations of the new airport will carry out a thorough investigation to prevent similar problems from recurring, the Chief Executive said today (Thursday).

Meeting with representatives of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) this evening, the Chief Executive said," I fully understand the public sentiment and concern over the airport operations. Our first priority is to address the problems. We should all put our efforts together and work towards this end.

"The membership of the independent team and its terms of reference will be announced once we have finalised the details," Mr Tung added.

In appraising the present situation in the new airport, Mr Tung said, "With the hard work of the staff of Hong Kong Airport Authority and the concerned parties, passenger terminal operations have been greatly improved. Some of the services have either met or exceeded the standards at Kai Tak.

"As for cargo handling services, the air cargo franchisees at Chep Lap Kok have today handled 55 per cent of the average daily total airfreight of Hong Kong.

"The Macau Airport is able to process about 900 tonnes of cargo, which is equivalent to 18 per cent of the average total airfreight of Hong Kong.

"These measures, together with the additional facilities at the Huangtian Airport in Shenzhen, will relieve to a great extent our temporary problems in air cargo handling," Mr Tung noted.

Mr Tung said, "We should convey our utmost support and encouragement to all the staff of the Airport Authority and all the parties concerned for their dedicated work in the past 10 days."

The Chief Executive also exchanged views with the DAB members on Hong Kong's economic situation.

Mr Tung said that the Government had introduced a series of measures on June 22 to ease the credit and liquidity crunch, to stabilise the property market and to boost public confidence.

The Government would continue to monitor external economic development, especially that of Japan, and assess its possible implications on the Hong Kong market.

The Chief Executive said he looked forward to better communication and working relationship with DAB.

Mr Tung has scheduled to meet other political parties shortly.

END/Thursday, July 16, 1998

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