A E Donald Esq Political Adviser HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
14 February 1977
REGE IN RES?
15 FEB 1977
THE WALLED CITY AND AIRCRAFT SAFETY
1. When Tim David visited you last November he talked at length to Ron Bridge about the air safety problems at Kai Tak attendant on the over-height buildings in the Walled City. Tim's view was that there was a definite UK political interest involved since any accident or near-accident at Kai Tak directly attributable to the Walled City's over-height buildings could very easily draw attention, in a spectacularly disastrous and unfortunate way, to the Hong Kong Government's anomalous position, vis-a-vis your own Airport (Control of Obstructions) Ordinance (and possibly vis-á-vis the relevant ICAO Convention as well) and, possibly, draw Ministers into debate over the extent of HMG's constitutional responsibility for the Hong Kong Government.
2. While I am aware that Kai Tak's safety record is excellent I think that there is something in this argument. The publicity that would surround an accident or near-accident could be highly misleading and it is certainly possible that the UK would become involved. In view of this I would be grateful to know what your present thinking is on the problem. Richard Samuel who has seen the minuting on this subject has commented: "I feel we may under- estimate the willingness of the (Peking) Chinese authorities to be helpful. A disaster would be no more in their interest than it would in ours".
3.
Richard has offered to describe the problem to Teddy Youde. Before I ask him to do this I should be grateful for your reactions.
sc:
Mr Buxton (M&GD) Mr Samuel (FED)
CONFIDENTIAL
JAB Stewart
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