GF 323
x
General
CONFIDENTIAL #
機密
Weekly Information Report No. 381
Week ending 20 December 1990
The Future
нис 18212
Mr. Stone
PASS
ра.
Dr Fugless 1.9.
/114
The two main topics across the urban areas were the Port
and Airport Development Strategy - (PADS)' and the Hong Kong and
Shanghai Bank Restructuring move, both 11 WIRS. The Town
Planning (Amendment) Bill drew comment in 4 districts and the
British Nationality Package drew feedback from only 2 districts.
Port and Airport Development Strategy
2. There was a general consensus amongst respondents in all
the urban areas, that open exchanges concerning PADS, between
senior officials of the CPG and HKG were deterimental to both
local and overseas confidence in Hong Kong. Respondents thought
greater efforts should be made to resolve any differences at the JLG meetings or at meetings of experts behind closed doors.
The majority of respondents remained supportive of PADS in prin- ciple, but some respondents expressed concern about the financial implications of the project. Whilst most respondents had little
understanding of the Exchange Fund or the Fiscal Reserve, there
was a strong desire for clarification on those matters. Some
respondents were sympathetic to China's position, that it would be irresponsible of her to support the project without knowing
the full implications, and urged HKG to release more financial information concerning the project. Respondents felt, that without Chinese support, participation of foreign investors in the scheme would be most unlikely. Some respondents believed China's innuendo that HKG had not given the public, and. LegCo members the whole picture of the financial implications of PADS.
Other contacts believed that China was interfering in Hong Kong's
internal affairs. Respondents gave little support to China's concern over the alleged excessive: power of the Airport
Authority, and many respondents were against the proposal to
include Chinese representation in the Authority, for fear of
/setting....
CONFIDENTIAL
機密