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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, said today (Friday) that he was pleased to note that the Hong Kong International Airport had just been named one of the Top Ten Construction Achievements of the 20th Century.

Mr Tung said that the community should take pride in our new airport, which is the only construction in Asia chosen for the award by Conexpo Con/AGG '99, a premier industry exposition in the Western Hemisphere. Other winners of the award included the Golden Gate Bridge, the Chunnel and the Panama Canal.

In a letter to Dr Leong Che-hung, Chairman of the Legislative Council House Committee, the Chief Executive said that he was always prepared to exchange views with Members of the Legislative Council, but he had already made clear his views on the findings of the three inquiry reports on the new airport.

He said he understood that the LegCo House Committee had decided that relevant LegCo Panels should follow up with the Administration on the recommendations of the three inquiry reports. The Panel on Economic Services would discuss the recommendations which were under the purview of Economic Services Bureau at a meeting on March 22.

The Chief Executive assured the Council that the Administration would be keeping the relevant LegCo Panels informed of the follow-up actions. In fact, a progress report on the follow-up actions would be forwarded to the Council very soon.

"I trust the relevant Panels will study the progress report and discuss the relevant issues with the Administration as necessary," he said, adding that he hoped Members would agree that there was no need for him to have a meeting with them to discuss the subject.

Mr Tung recalled that since the publication of the three reports, the matters involved had been thoroughly discussed in the public and during the motion debate on February 3 and that he had also stated his views in public on different occasions.

"In particular, I share the view of the Select Committee that Hong Kong should benefit from the lessons that can be learned. In this connection, both the Administration and the Airport Authority have taken the necessary follow-up actions on the basis of the findings and the recommendations in the reports.

"On the question of the role and performance of individual civil servants, I can also reassure Members that I have carefully studied the relevant sections in the three reports to determine whether there is prima facie evidence that any of them having misconducted themselves, having regard to the normal standard of tests used in the civil service.

"As explained in my letter of February 15, I am convinced that the officers concerned have at all times acted in good faith and have performed their duties with due diligence. Accordingly, I have come to the conclusion that there is no prima facie case for disciplinary action against any of the officers," he added.

End/Friday, March 19, 1999

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