RESTRICTED
FM SINGAPORE
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 250
OF 040840Z JULY 91
RECENT
RESTRICTED
HKB 182/6
08 JUL 1991
ir
A
15
036203
MDHIAN 4034
YOUR TELNO 219 TO ATHENS: CHINA/HONG KONG: THE AIRPORT PROJECT
1. I CALLED ON FOREIGN MINISTER, WONG KAN SENG THIS MORNING, SHORTLY BEFORE THE WEEKLY CABINET MEETING, AND SPOKE AS INSTRUCTED ON THE AIRPORT AGREEMENT. I LEFT A BOUT DE PAPIER BASED ON PARAGRAPHS 3, 5 AND 6 OF TUR, I THANKED HIM EXPLICITLY FOR HIS GOVERNMENT'S RECENT INTERVENTIONS WITH THE CHINESE WHICH, WE BELIEVED, HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE SATISFACTORY OUTCOME OF THE AIRPORT DISCUSSIONS.
2. WONG EXPRESSED PLEASURE. SUCH AN AGREEMENT WAS A VERY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT: HE WAS GLAD THAT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN RESOLVED AMICABLY. SAID THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF HE COULD MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT TO THAT EFFECT. WONG REPLIED THAT HE WOULD EXAMINE THE STATEMENTS TO BE MADE IN LONDON, PEKING AND HONG KONG AND CONSIDER WHAT HE MIGHT USEFULLY ADD.
COMMENT
3. WONG WAS CLEARLY DELIGHTED THAT WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFERENCES WITH THE CHINESE. HE WILL, NO DOUBT, HAVE CONVEYED THIS NEWS AT ONCE TO HIS CABINET COLLEAGUES. WE SHALL REPORT ON ANY STATEMENT WELCOMING THE AIRPORT AGREEMENT.
DUGGAN
I
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
PADS SECRET
31
DISTRIBUTION
40
HD/PLANNERS
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
LIMITED
HKD
HD/PUSD
HD/FED
HD/NEWS D
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