PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECTS
Consultation
13.
No consultative bodies have been asked to advise on the question dealt with in this memorandum. The Aviation Advisory Board's views on planning for a replacement airport were sought. However, the question of siting the airport in China was not put to the Board nor did any member raise this issue. It has not been considered appropriate to seek the Board's views specifically on this somewhat delicate, political question.
Public reaction
14.
There does not appear to be much public interest in this issue at the moment.
Publicity
15.
Should the proposals in paragraph 12 be approved, it is considered that no publicity need be given to the decision on this memorandum since, as far as the public is concerned, the Covernment is proceeding on the basis only of Chek Lap Kok as a replacement airport site. As suggested in paragraph 12(b) above, in the event of any further speculation about the siting of the replacement airport, the Government should pour cold water on it and point out that further planning for a 1982 decision on whether or not to build at Chek Lap Kok is going ahead.
ADVICE SOUGHT
16.
Honourable Members will be asked to advise whether the proposals contained in paragraph' 12 above should be approved.
(The Director of Civil Aviation (Mr. B.D. KEEP), the Acting Political Adviser (Mr. I.C. ORR) and the Deputy Secretary for Economic Services (Mr. RAFAEL S.Y. HUI) will attend before the Council for discussion of this item.)
7th August 1980 (CR 9/951/79)
CONFIDENTIAL