GRS 250
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY OTI
TELNO OTTER 18
Rechriched
OF 240332Z JANUARY 87
INFO PRIORITY FCO, PEKING
17513
HKK 487+
VED IN
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
25 JAN 1987
FOR WHEELER PEP.
2011 Tabs.)
4
MY OTTER 17 : PROPOSED ROAD/AIRRORÍ DEVELOPMENT.
1. THE SITUATION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DEFUSED. SOME WHAT BY THE FORM OF
WORDS AGREED DURING OUR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION. WE TOOK THE FOLLOWING
LINE:
**WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THE DTI HAVE AGREED TO MAKE A GRANT TOWARDS
THE COST OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY. THE ACTUAL SUM IS A MATTER OF COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE. THIS IN NO WAY SEEKS TO PREJUDGE OR PREJUDICE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS OWN DECISION. IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF SUPPORT FOR BRITISH COMPANIES WHO HOPE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT IF IT COMES ABOUT. IF ASKED WHEN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD START WE SAID THIS WAS A MATTER FOR THE COMPANIES CONCERNED.
•
2. 1 READ IT OVER TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND WE USED IT WITH
THE PRESS.
3. THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST HAS INCLUDED IT IN A REASONABLE
STORY THIS MORNING.
4. RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG HAVE ALSO USED IT BUT HAVE REFERRED TO RAISED EYEBROWS IN HONG KONG BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT, WHILE STILL CONSIDERING THE PROJECT, WERE NOT INFORMED IN ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS DECISION TO HELP FINANCE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
HOLLOWAY
i
YYYY
HMNAN 7692
NNNN
MIN
INIMAL
H Kn
Noctrored
LOPIES TO DTI VIC ST.