HKK182/412/1
SECRET
6 January 197
if we were to rely on what the Portuguese say is the Chinese attitude. We would have ourselves to consult the Chinese, if necessary, in order to be satisfied that they would have no objection to the airport project. We, therefore, consider that we should make it clear in the eventual substantive reply to the Portuguese memorandum that further progress must be conditional on our having confirmation that the Chinese are in agreement in principle with the proposal;
(b) We do not doubt Leandro's enthusiasm but we must continue to doubt the seriousness of Portuguese intentions unless and until it is clear that the construction of an airport at Macao is really a practical possibility. It seems very doubtful whether the Portuguese Government will have sufficient references available in the foresee- able future to pay for an airport in Macao. We note that Leandro, when he spoke to the Governor, pointed to a need for a feasibility study. We suspect that if and when such a study is produced, it will dash his hopes;
(c) This said, we cannot, at this stage, foresee political difficulties for ourselves in the opening of an international airport at Macao. You, and Peking, are better placed than we to assess whatever the Chinese would see such difficulties for themselves.
(a) In paragraph 12 of the record of his meeting with the Governor, Leandro is reported as having said "The proposed airport would only work if the notion was favourable to both Hong Kong and London. It would be possible to build one which would not conflict with the use of Kai Tak". Soft soap, I think, or at the very least, an attempt at a soft sell. The DoT say that there can be little doubt that there is no justification whatsoever for such an airport to serve the needs of Macao. What it would do, and what it is clearly intended to do, is to draw traffic away from Hong Kong. implications for Hong Kong may be different, but in the DoT's view any airport of the kind proposed in Macao would bring to naught the efforts that Ministers of successive Governments have made to preserve the value of Hong Kong as a traffic point; and on the successful preservation of this value depends much of our bargaining strength in obtaining rights elsewhere for British airlines.
The
The DoT would therefore regard the opening of a major international airport at Macao as a "major blow to British aviation interests". At a more technical
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