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4.
I was interested to see that, in its 17 23 January English edition, the main local Communist paper, Da Gong Bao, published a detailed account of what our Director of Civil Aviation had said about the possibility of a replacement airport being built north of Lantau. (This is the project now being examined by consultants whose report will not be available until March.) I enclose a copy of the article. By contrast, the same paper has made no mention of the possibility of an airport. across the border.
5.
The conclusion which must, I think, be drawn from these straws is that the Chinese are being careful not to give any official encouragement to the idea of a replacement airport in China. Indeed, they seem to be making some effort to suggest that the scheme does not have official Chinese support. This is all to the good.
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(D C Wilson)
RD Clift Esq
Hong Kong & General Department
TJB George Esq
Peking
D C Bray Esq CMG CVO Hong Kong London Office
CONFIDENTIAL