Lazard Brothers & Co., Limited
From Sir Ian MacGregor
20 Janaury 1987
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe, MP
Foreign Secretary
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street Whitehall
LONDON SW1
Dear Si
agoun
Cr
Mr. (dan (and)
In dfer reply for Sys
рос
The popsal
HKK 175/3 funt
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
3 FEB 1987
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
has been to Si J. Wilm.
22/1 a Fr. Gillme
PS
21 Moorfields London EC2P 2HT
Telephone: 01 588 2721 Cables: Drazal LondonEC2 S.W.I.F.T.: LAZLGB2L Facsimile: 01 628 2485
12
Telex: General 886438/888008
Foreign Exchange: 886104
Registered office 21 Moorfields London EC2P 2HT
Registered in England No. 162175
Thank you for giving me time this morning to discuss the proposed Western Harbour-Lantau Strategic Development Project. I hope that the outline of the Project which shows three alternatives, of which the most favoured is alternative B, will be of interest to you and your colleagues.
بهات
In recent months my work in Hong Kong has brought me in touch with many of the principal Chinese members of the community, and I have been impressed with the growing relationships between them and the people inside the PRC. One typical example of that is the highway which will be constructed between Canton and Hong Kong and it is now moving ahead. This is an idea sponsored in Hong Kong and finally the right of way is being acquired with the help of the central government in Beijing, who are actively encouraging this project. It is likewise one that can be financed with private capital. It is proposed that there will be tolls on the road and the traffic surveys would indicate that, with the growing export business from South China through Hong Kong, the revenues should easily enable the project to be financed. There is very great interest on the part of the Chinese in Hong Kong in this improvement in their infrastructure.
The proposal I left with you, the Western Harbour-Lantau Development, has also had a considerable amount of local support. It provides Hong Kong with much- needed alongside berthing and will improve the costs in handling traffic, especially container traffic, through the port. It is seen as a development which will make Hong Kong more competitive in the future.
I cannot emphasise too much the enthusiasm that I found on the part of the many Chinese for support for a project of this type. Even though it is capable of being financed on the basis of the revenues that can be produced without Government intervention, it clearly isn't going to go ahead unless the Government gives its approval and encouragement and is seen to be enthusiastic about the long-term future that this project implies.
I hope that your colleagues will give this imaginative idea their whole-hearted support in the interests of the future relationships between the community, the United Kingdom and the Peoples Republic of China.
With all good wishes, and many thanks for having the chance to discuss this
with you.
Yours sincerely
Tan thank gor