SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 03123OZ FCO
TELNO 2125
OF 031205Z JULY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(74)
033004
MDHIAN 3861
TOP COPY Q DIST?
NKE 182 14
RECENT
08 JUL 1991
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
D.SK OFFICEK
INDEX
HA
PADS SECRET
AIRPORT TALKS: RUMOURS AND LEAKS
1.
TOLD THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS AT LUNCH TODAY (3 JULY) THAT HE HAD HEARD FROM SOURCES IN BOTH LONDON AND PEKING THAT A WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
2. THE STOCK MARKET IS CURRENTLY BEING DRIVEN BY RUMOURS ABOUT THE AIRPORT. TURNOVER TODAY WAS GOOD, AND THE HANG SENG INDEX ENDED UP PLUS 23 POINTS. THERE WAS A RUMOUR THAT THE TALKS ON THE AIRPORT HAD BEEN RESOLVED.
ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE.
3. ACCORDING TO THOSE PRESENT, AT A FUNCTION THIS MORNING GUO FENGMIN AND ZHANG JUN-SHENG (NCNA) WERE TELLING OTHERS PRESENT THAT EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY RESOLVED.
4. THE ECONOMIC JOURNAL HAS PICKED UP A STORY FROM PEKING THAT A MOU HAS BEEN SIGNED. THEY ARE LIKELY TO PRINT IT TOMORROW.
5. THERE IS RAPIDLY INCREASING INTEREST ELSEWHERE IN THE MEDIA, AND WIDESPREAD RUMOURS THAT A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE TOMORROW (4 JULY). THERE IS STILL SPECULATION ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH SOME SAYING ONLY THAT A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS WILL BE ANNOUNCED.
6. AS THE ABOVE SHOWS LEAKAGE FROM THE CHINESE IS BECOMING WIDESPREAD. IT IS LIKELY TO INCREASE BEFORE TOMORROW AS JOURNALISTS HERE PURSUE THE STORY. WE ARE STICKING TO OUR LINE OF
NOT COMMENTING.
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Redacted under FOI exemption sections 27 (1)(a), (c), (d)
Redacted under FOI exemption Sections 40 and 41