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Following is a question by the Hon David Li Kwok-po and a written reply by the Secretary for the Treasury, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council whether, in order to increase its incomes and to avoid budget deficits in the next few years, it will consider selling or listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange some of its quality assets, such as the toll-tunnels, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, the Hongkong Post and the airport at Chek Lap Kok?

Reply:

The Government will give careful and serious consideration to the possibility of privatisation, either in part or in whole, of some of its assets, such as railway corporations and toll tunnels, through selling or listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Government recognises that such action will increase its income in the particular year when privatisation takes place, as well as generating wider economic benefits for the community. It also recognises that other factors, e.g. legislation, will need to be taken into account in the consideration of any privatisation proposal.

End/Wednesday, November 11, 1998

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