RESTRICTED
FM SINGAPORE
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 456
RESTRICTED
1725
010560
MDLIAN 5812
ра
HKB 027/+
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
ED
OF 2009OOZ NOVEMBER 91
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING, ASEAN POSTS, DTI, INFO PRIORITY WELLINGTON
VISIT OF GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TO SINGAPORE : 18/19 NOVEMBER
SUMMARY
1. A TIGHTLY PACKED AND SUCCESSFUL VISIT. SINGAPORE LEADERS RESPONDED WITH CONSIDERABLE WARMTH TO SUGGESTIONS FOR INCREASED COOPERATION AND MORE STRUCTURED CONTACTS. SINGAPORE EXPRESSED FIRM SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO HELP IN ANY WAY IT COULD TO BUILD UP AND REINFORCE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE AND STRESSED ITS WISH TO
INVEST MEANINGFULLY.
DETAIL
2.
THE GOVERNOR HAD SEPARATE TALKS (RECORDS TO BE CIRCULATED BY PRIVATE SECRETARY) WITH PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG, SENIOR MINISTER LEE KUAN YEW, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BG LEE AND SECOND MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS BG YEO, ALL OF WHOM ALSO ATTENDED A PRIVATE POOLSIDE DINNER AT THE ISTANA HOSTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER. I GAVE A LUNCH
PRIMARILY FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF COMPANIES AND BANKS WITH HONG KONG INTERESTS. THE GOVERRNOR ADDRESSED AN ACADEMIC, MEDIA AND BUSINESS AUDIENCE ON THONG KONG TO 1997 AND BEYOND'', MET SENIOR PRESS EDITORS AND GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO SBC. PRESS COVERAGE WAS FAVOURABLE.
3. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT, IN THE GOVERNOR'S WORDS WAS 'TO SET THE SEAL' ON EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CONTACTS, COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION. SINGAPORE MINISTERS RESPONDED WARMLY. LEE KUAN YEW STATED BLUNTLY THAT SINGAPORE HAD DONE ITS CALCULATIONS CAREFULLY AND HAD COME TO THE UNANIMOUS CONCLUSION THAT ''HONG KONG WAS GOOD FOR US: THERE MIGHT BE COMPETITION BUT IT WOULD NOT BE INIMICAL TO E THER, A PROSPEROUS HONG KONG WOULD BE OF IMMENSE VALUE TO SINGAPORE'S ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN CHINA AND THEY HAD SO TOLD THE CHINESE. SINGAPORE WAS GAD TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT, FRIENDLY ADVICE (AND A BOLT-HOLE IF NECESSARY) AND TO FORTICIPATE THROUGH INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT EG LEE KUAN YEW ASKED ABOUT POSSIBLE FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS AND THE HONG KONG AIRPORT AUTHORITY.
1
PAGE RESTRICTED