GRS 350
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1056
OF 170915Z MARCH 87
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
Confidential
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YOUR TELNO 227: NEW AIRPORT
ON 10 MARCH, EXCO CONSIDERED THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE
AIRPORT NEEDS. EXCO DECIDED THAT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, PLANNING
SHOULD PROCEED FOR A CONSULTANCY TO UNDERTAKE A DEFINITIVE AND
EXHAUSTIVE STUDY OF THE EXTENT TO WHICH KAI TAK MIGHT BE FURTHER
IMPROVED AND DEVELOPED TO ITS MAXIMUM CAPACITY.
2. TO THIS END, APROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES ARE TO BE TAKEN TO
ENSURE THAT LAND REQUIRED FOR THE ANTICIPATED EXPANSION OF KAI
TAK ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION IS RESERVED FOR AIRCRAFT
PARKING AND OTHER AIRPORT USES, AND IS NOT USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
3. IN THE MEANTIME, PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHEK LAP KOK
AND POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE SITES SHOULD PROCEED IN A POSITIVE WAY
WITH A VIEW TO REACHING A POSITION FROM WHICH IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
FOR AN EARLY DECISION TO BE TAKEN ON AN ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT IN
HONG KONG. A FURTHER EXCO PAPER SHOULD BE PREPARED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE TO REPORT ON PROGRESS TO THIS END. THE PROSPECT OF A
REPLACEMENT AIRPORT ON OR NEAR THE BORDER IN DEEP BAY HAS BEEN RULED
OUT.
4. EXCO ALSO RECOGNISED THAT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, IT WOULD BE
NECESSARY TO INVOLVE THE PRC GOVERNMENT IN TAKING THE PLANS
FORWARD SO THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR
PLANS, AND WITH A VIEW TO AVOIDING SADDLING THE HONG KONG SAR
GOVERNMENT WITH AN UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN OF DEBT.
COMMENT
5. IT IS CLEAR THAT UNTIL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KAI TAK
CAPACITY CONSULTANCY ARE AVAILABLE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TAKE
A FIRM DECISION ON A REPLACEMENT
AIRPORT AND BASED ON EXISTING FORECASTS, A FIRM DECISION DOES
NOT NEED TO BE TAKEN BEFORE 1990. WE ARE THEREFORE PURSUING THE
CONSULTANCY AS OUR FIRST PRIORITY, TOGETHER WITH THE
SAFEGUARDING OF THE KAI TAK EXPANSION AREA. MEANWHILE, WE ALSO
SHALL BE ASSESSING THE RELATIVE MERITS OF THE ALTERNATIVE
AIRPORT SITES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO US AND THESE INCLUDE THE
Confidential
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