SECRET
FM PEKING
ние
SECRET
HKB 182 12.
TO DESKBY 280915Z HONG KONG
TELNO 158
OF 28083OZ MAY 91
TOP COPY Q DIST?
AND TO IMMEDIATE FCO, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
38
0670
MDHIAN 85
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
34
YOUR TELNOS 1661 AND 1662 AND TELECON BROOKING/BRADLEY OF 28 MAY: AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS BRIEFINGS
1.
IN RESPONSE TO REPEATED REQUESTS ACTING PRESS OFFICER GAVE BACKGROUND BRIEFING DRAWING ON SECOND TUR TO SELECTED RESIDENT CORRESPONDENTS HERE ON 28 MAY. THE MAIN AREAS OF QUESTIONING WERE AS FOLLOWS:
A - WHAT DID CONSULTATION'' MEAN ?
B
—
WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM ABOUT BORROWING AND HOW DID THE QUESTION OF BORROWING RELATE TO THE CHINESE ALLEGATIONS OF BACKSLIDING
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POSITION ?
C
-
WAS A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO SHELVE THE AIRPORT TAKEN BY EXCO AT ITS MEETING TODAY (28 MAY) ? IF NOT, WHAT WAS THE DEADLINE FOR TAKING A DECISION ? WAS THERE ANY POINT IN HOLDING A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS ?
D
WOULD ANY AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES BE PUBLISHED, ESPECIALLY IF THERE WERE TO BE LIMITS ON HKG BORROWING ?
E
wak
CHEN ZUO'ER HAD CLAIMED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WANTED GREATER TRANSPARENCY WHY DID THE BRITISH
-
CONFIDENTIALITY ?
COATES
SIDE INSIST ON
YYYY
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