David Wilson
Assistant Under Secretary
Asian Pacific Department
CONFIDENTIAL
17
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
1-19 VICTORIA STREET
LONDON SWIH OET
Telephone (Direct dialling) 01-215)
5462
GTN 215)
(Switchboard) 01-215 7877
FCO
Whitehall
December 1986
that
If Adames
Late 19/12 sa
191
Dan Dauid,
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HKK 18211
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
HONG KONG AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
23 DEC 1986
"DESK DA
CER
LEEGISTRY
Ack.sent.
Christian Adams mentioned me a few dajcioniga call that he had received from Costains on Gordon Wu's visionary proposal for a new airport for Hong Kong. You will gather'just how visionary it is from the presentation brochure that Ove Arup provided for a presentation to the Hong Kong Government staff - I understand that Piers Jacobs was not actually present.
Whilst there are clearly "entrepreneurial" advantages for Gordon Wu, it is interesting that he has got Hutchinson on side, and one can see an appeal in the concept for Hong Kong in the immediate post 1996 scenario, and probably even longer-term. My point in writing is really that, whilst at the moment we are simply talking to Ove Arup and Costain about providing some small support to the next stage of the feasibility study, at the end of the day the project is going to require very large sums of finance - not least equity, and equally, not least, ECGD cover. We would certainly like to see Britain at a prominent position in such a major development if it occurs, and to do this we are The crat if bound to need the maximum backing from FCO, if indeed the
Hong Kong Government consider the overall proposals have merit.
My purpose in writing is really to just keep you up to date on what is in prospect, recognising that there are a good few building blocks to be put into place.
999-64
Years
Den
C B BENJAMIN
CONFIDENTIAL
M1192