CONFIDENTIAL **
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(b)
of key personnel and supplies if
there were civil disturbances.
To
reduce this vulnerability, it would
be necessary to retain Kai Tak as an
alternative, thus losing the benefits
to the environment and the substantial
revenue that would be achieved if
Kai Tak were closed and much of the
land sold for development. Such sales
in the right political climate could
go a long way towards financing
the new airport;
on the other hand, it will be extremely
difficult to coordinate the operation
of two international airports so close
to each other. And since even use of
Kai Tak is difficult without infringing
Chinese airspace, they could make its
continued use impossible at any time,
It would therefore be very difficult
to resist the siting of a new airport
in China if the CPG insisted on ito
So there is an urgent need to head
off this idea if the arguments
against it are as strong as we think;
G.F. 326
CONFIDENTIAL # ≈
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