CYPHER/ CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
17
TOP COPY
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NMBER 622
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
17/SEPTEMBER 1970
'CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVEDÂN
FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR.
HXX21/1
'CH.
NEXT
REP
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 608: KAI TAK RUNWAY EXTENSION.
I TELEGRAPHED BECAUSE I HAD HEARD NOTHING ON THIS SUBJECT FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS AND WAS UNAWARE EVEN OF WHETHER IT WAS STILL
UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION OR NOT. IT IS HOWEVER A LIVE ISSUE
AGAIN HERE BECAUSE:
(A) THE RISE IN COST, WHEN KNOWN. PUBLICLY, MAY WELL LEAD TO FRESH
ENQUIRIES AS TO HMG S INTENTIONS OVER ASSISTANCE SEMICOLON AND
(B) THE TENDERS REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 12 0OCTOBER ONLY, AND A FINAL
DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE SCHEME IN WHOLE OR IN
PART, IN THE LIGHT OF THE GREATLY INCREASED COST, CANNOT BE DEFERRED
FOR MORE THAN A WEEK OR TWO.
2. AS REGARDS (A), I NEED IF POSSIBLE TO HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES, SINCE MERELY TO SAY THAT THERE
HAD BEEN NO REPLY, OR NO DECISION, OR THAT THE MATTER WAS STILL
UNDER CONSIDERATION, MIGHT NOT ONLY LEAD TO FURTHER CONTINUED
CONFIDENTIAL
/CYNICAL COMMENT