2
GPS 535
ONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 090930Z JAN
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 56 OF 9 JANUARY, 1980
HKK 182/1
RECEIVE
Y 10. 51
1924
TOP CC.
DESK JMROER
INDEX
No
۲.۱
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON AND PEKING.
REPLACEMENT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
See vel
1. RECENT WEEKS SUGGESTIONS HAVE COME FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES HERE ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF LOCATING HONG KONG'S REPLACEMENT AIRPORT (1.E. TO REPLACE KAI TAK WHICH WILL REACH SATURATION POINT ABOUT 1985, ON PRESENT FORECASTS) JUST ACROSS THE BORDER. et
THESE SUGGESTIONS HAVE COME GENERALLY FROM MIDDLEMEN. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INDICATIONS OF INTEREST BY THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES AND INDIRECT ATTEMPTS BY THEM TO SOUND OUT THE ATTITUDE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THERE HAS HOWEVER BEEN NO OFFICIAL MENTION OF THE MATTER.
2. ON 4 JANUARY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE, THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF WHICH ARE THAT CHINA IS UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AIRPORT ON THEIR SIDE OF THE BORDER NEAR DEEP BAY.: THAT THE AIRPORT WOULD SERVE AS HONG KONG'S SECOND AIRPORT IF APPROVED BY H.M.G. WHOSE CLEARANCE IS AWAITED: THAT THE AIRPORT PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO MR PETER BLAKER: AND THAT A SYNDICATE OF HONG KONG AMERICAN AND OVERSEAS CHINESE BUSINESSMEN (UNIDENTIFIED) PLAN TO RAISE FINANCE OF HK DOLLARS 800
MILLION AND WOULD EXPECT THE H.K. AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE HK DOLLARS 600 BILLION EACH.
3. ANDREW JEAN AND ASSOCIATES (ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS) ADDRESSED A LETTER CONTAINING A PROPOSAL FOR A JOINT AIRPORT IN CHINA NEAR DEEP BAY TO MR BLAKER DURING THE LATTER'S VISIT HERE IN SEPTEMBER AND THE ARTICLE IS ON BROADLY SIMILAR LINES. INDEED IT WAS PROBABLY PROMPTED BY THEM TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN SCHEME. (THE INTERIM REPLY TO THE LETTER TO MR BLAKER SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD BEST BE DEALT WITH BY H.K.G. AND THE LETTER WAS THEREFORE BEING PASSED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT FOR CONSIDERATION. OUR REPLY TO ANDREW JEAN AND ASSOCIATES WHICH IS BEING SENT TELLS THEM
THAT EXAMINATION FOR THE NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT TO KAI TAK HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AND NO DECISION WILL BE TAKEN UNTIL AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REPORT OF CONSULTANTS APPOINTED TO CARRY
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