HK advisers appeal to China over airport plan

LEADING Hongkong businessmen yesterday urged Chinese leaders to help release the brakes on the vast infrastructure projects, including the new Chek Lap Kok airport, planned for the territory.

The businessmen among the Beijing-appointed Hongkong Affairs Advisers issued a joint plea that Beijing take steps to minimise damage to the territory's economy, caused by the lingering Sino-British political row.

They urged senior mainland officials, including Mr Lu Ping, the director of the State Council's Hongkong and Macau Affairs Office, and Mr Zhou Nan, chief of the Hongkong New China News Agency, to separate economics from politics.

While stressing the need for co-operation between the two sides on Hongkong's transitional matters, they pointed out that China's support for major projects, particularly the airport, would help maintain the dynamism of the territory's economy.

The plea for ''business as usual'' came in unison from an impressive array of Hongkong's corporate tycoons, including Mr Li Ka-shing of Cheung Kong, Mr Cheng Yu-tung of New World, Mr Lee Shau-kee of Henderson Land Development, Mr Edgar Cheng Wai-kin, the late Sir Yue-kong Pao's son-in-law who runs World Wide Investments, and Mr Hari Harilela, the prominent Indian businessman.

After the 49 newly-appointed advisers received their credentials at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People, they were photographed with the Prime Minister, Mr Li Peng, and the President, Mr Jiang Zemin, and a host of other top officials.