EN CLAIR
HONG KONG то FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 136
11 FEBRUARY 1969
нак
UNCLASSIFIED
FROM B.T.C.
ADDRESSED F.C.0. TELNO 136 OF 11TH FEBRUARY RFI ECGD AND CRE
(BOARD OF TRADE)
CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.
LEADING ARTICLES APPEARED 11 FEBRUARY IN BOTH ENGLISH LANGUAGE
MORNING NEWSPAPERS. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST SUGGESTS
THAT THE INTEREST BEING SHOWN BY AMERICAN, BRITISH, FRENCH
AND SWISS FINANCIERS INDICATES A REVIVAL OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG
KONG'S FUTURE BY INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS. IT CONTINUES BY
SUGGESTING THAT IF THE TUNNEL CONTRACT IS FINALISED FURTHER
CAPITAL MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING FOR OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS SUCH AS
THE RUNWAY EXTENSION, CONTAINER TERMINAL AND RAPID TRANSIT SCHEME.
THE HONG KONG STANDARD COMMENTS THAT THE TUNNEL PROJECT HAS COME
ALIVE AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE OCTOBER TALKS FOR WHICH THEY
PLACE THE BLAME ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR REFUSING TO
UNDERWRITE THE LOAN. THEY CONTINUE QUOTE IF EITHER THE FRENCH
OR AMERICAN PARTIES INVOLVED ARE TO BE GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD TO
WILD THE TUNNEL THE BRITISH WILL ONLY HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME
UNQUOTE. THEY CONCLUDE BY SAYING THAT TOO MUCH TIME HAS BEEN
LOST ON TALKS AND THAT THE TUNNEL SHOULD BE BUILT REGARDLESS OF
WHO BUILDS IT.
SIR D. TRENCH
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
H.K. DEPT.
MR. MORETON
S.E.A.D.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No.31.
1 3 FEB 1969
必
MKK 21/V
MR. WARNER
TRADE POLICY DEPT.
MR. COMBS
MR. GALLAGHER
TRAINING