RESTRICTED
MDHI
102255
9108
PROPOSAL FOR A CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE. HKG HAD ALSO PUBLICLY STATED THAT IT WOULD NOT/NOT CONSULT HK PEOPLE ON THE LOCATION OF A NEW AIRPORT.
6.
ANOTHER COLUMN IN WEN WEI PO SAID THAT THE CHINESE SIDE'S REQUEST TO BE CONSULTED OVER THE NEW AIRPORT WAS TOTALLY IN LINE WITH THE JD. A COLUMN IN TA KUNG PAO SAID THAT THE CHINESE WANTED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE NEW AIRPORT WITH HKG IN THE INTERESTS OF HK COMPATRIOTS. THE BRITISH SHOULD REMEMBER THIS IF THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF HK PEOPLE.
7
A COLUMN IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL SAID THAT EXCO
AND THE FCO HOLD DIFFERENT VIEWS OVER THE NEW AIRPORT. EXCO DID NOT/NOT WANT TO GIVE UP HKG'S EFFECTIVE AUTHORITY AND WAS THEREFORE INCLINED TO SCRAP OR DELAY THE PROJECT. BUT THE FCO WERE MORE INTERESTED IN REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE IN A BID TO SHOW GOOD SINO-BRITISH CO-OPERATION.
COMMENT
8.
CHINESE SOURCES SEEM KEEN TO STRESS THAT TALKS ARE
CONTINUING AND TO AVOID A BREAKDOWN. BUT THE WEN WEI PO EDITORIAL
IS PLAINLY AIMED AT UNDERMINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE HKG BY ACCUSING HKG OF ACTING WITHOUT BEARING IN MIND THE PEOPLE'S INTERESTS. THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL COLUMN IS UNHELPFUL, BUT MAY SIMPLY BE A RE-HASH OF YESTERDAY'S ORIENTAL DAILY REPORT.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
PADS SECRET
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
HD/NEWS D
HD/PUSD
31
DISTRIBUTION
40
HD/PLANNERS
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
2
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