CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COP
14
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
"ELEGRAM NUMBER 594
7 SEPTEMBER 1970.
CONFIDENTIAL
KAI TAK RUNWAY EXTENSION.
CONTRACT FOR MAIN WORK IS NOW DUE TO BE LET. ON THE BASIS OF TENDERS
FOR THIS THE TOTAL COST OF AN EXTENSION OF 2,483 FEET IS NOW
ESTIMATED AT HONG KONG DOLLARS 152-160 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE
ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF 99 MILLION.
-ATC-8/240/13
2. I HAVE HAD NO REPLY TO MY DESPATCH 511 OF 10 MARCH 1967
REQUESTING A GRANT FROM HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, NOR HAS ANYTHING
CONCLUSIVE BEEN CONVEYED TO ME AS A RESULT OF CORRESPONDENCE AND
DISCUSSIONS SINCE THAT DATE. THE ARGUMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE BY WAY OF
GRANT OR LOAN ARE NOT, OF COURSE, IN ANY WAY DIMINISHED BY ANY
DECISION WE MAY TAKE HERE TO GO AHEAD : AND IN VIEW OF THE HEAVY
COST AS NOW DISCLOSED WE MAY INDEED EVEN NOW BE FORCED TO CONSIDER
A REDUCTION IN LENGTH OR DEFERMENT OF THE SCHEME. AS YOUR DECISION
MAY AFFECT OUR OWN FINAL DECISION, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR AN EARLY
INDICATION OF YOUR DECISION WHETHER TO ASSIST US OR NOT.
SIR D. TRENCH
· DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
H.K. DEPT.
F.P.A.D.
A. & T.D.
F.E.D.
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CONFIDENTIAL
RE TIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
- SEP 279
HKK21/2