FOOD 007/14
FOLLWG. IS TEXT OF MANILA
CONFIDENTIAL
TEL. NO MODEV 139 OF 14 OCT TO
F.C.O. SENT TO YOU FOR ROUTINE ACTION
CONFIDENTIAL
RESSED TO ODM TELNO 139 OF 14/10
TO MODEV FROM DU BOULAY
2157
YOUR TELNO 156 RECEIVED 13/10
WATANABE PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG EARLY SEPTEMBER
WAS ASKED BY PRESS AT AIRPORT
рактик
WHETHER HONG KONG WAS ENTITLED TO APPLY TO ADB FOR LOANS. HE REPLIED
CORRECTLY THAT QUOTE
IT WAS NOT DENIED THE POSSIBILITY OF APPLYING UNQUOTE.
HE WAS THEN ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT FINANCING RUNWAY EXTENSION AND
REPLIED QUOTE NO COMMENT UNQUOTE. THIS EXCHANGE WAS SOLE BASIS
FOR
ON
SPECULATIVE AND MISLEADING ARTICLE IN HONG KONG TELEGRAPH
SUGGESTING HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO TURN DOWN OFFER BY
ADB OF A LOAN. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ISSUED A CLARIFYING STATEMENT
16 SEPTEMBER CONCLUDING THAT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT WATANABE
WAS NEITHER MAKING A PROPOSAL NOR INVITING AN APPLICATION NOR IMPLY-
ING EITHER SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR ANY APPLICATION WHICH MIGHT
RE MADE. COWPERTHWAITE SENT TEXT OF HIS CLARIFICATION TO
WATANABE FOR CONFIRMATION. LATTER HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON.
! UNDERSTAND HE INTENDS ON RETURN 12 OCTOBER TO CONFIRM IT
EXPLICITLY.
2. AS FAR AS BANK IS AWARE THERE IS NO REPEAT NO CHANGE IN HONG
KONGS INTENTION NOT REPEAT NOT TO SEEK LOANS FROM ADB IN
NEAR FUTURE AND IN PARTICULAR THEY DO NOT REPEAT NOT EXPECT
ANY APPLICATION IN RESPECT OF RUNWAY EXTENSION.
SENT
1413192 AKC
RECVD 141319Z
MR. BELCHER MR. J.P.L. GWYNN DR. I.S. RUSSELL MR. F.N. RICHARDS MR. GAMINARA
RECEIVED IN JAFFRAY RUCUTRY NO 51
MR. R.E. BARBER
DFP 20 CCT 1969
HKK 21/11
LAST
REF.
(
NEXT
REF.
O.D.M.
TREASURY
BOARD OF TRADE F.C.O.
11
E.C.G.D.
BANK OF ENGLAND