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TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO OTTER 108
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YOUR TELNO OTTER 82: PROPOSED ROAD/AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
سى
THANK YOU FOR THIS HELPFUL REPORT. WE WOULD AGREE GENERALLY
WITH GORDON WU'S CONTENTION THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR SUBSTANTIAL
UK PARTICIPATION MIGHT WELL RECEDE IF THE PROJECT IS MUCH DELAYED.
WE SHALL ALSO WANT TO ASSURE WU THAT MAJOR BRITISH FIRMS, WITH
UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, ARE GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND ARE
KEEN TO PURSUE THE PROJECT (SEE BELOW).
2 PETER COSTAIN SAW CHRISTOPHER HUM, HKD/FCO YESTERDAY TO ASK
X WHETHER THE UK GOVERNMENT WOULD USE ITS INFLUENCE WITH THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER THE PROJECT AND MAXIMISE UK INDUSTRIAL
PARTICIPATION. HUM WARNED COSTAIN OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
SENSITIVITIES AND OF THE LATTER'S WISH TO EXERCISE THEIR OWN
JUDGEMENT. COSTAIN ASKED WHETHER SPECIAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE MIGHT
BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT AS AN EARNEST OF THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT'S GOOD FAITH OVER THE TRANSFER OF POWER. HUM TOLD
COSTAIN HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
OVER AND ABOVE THAT OF THE OVERSEAS PROJECTS FUND.
3 I TOO HAVE SPOKEN TO PETER COSTAIN, HIS ENGINEERING DIRECTOR,
RON SAMUELS AND I HAD TODAY A LONG TALK WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER
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