CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TELNO 60
OF 1113OOZ JULY 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
062010 MDHOAN 7055
нка 18219
TOP COPY Q DIST ?/
YOUR TELNO 232: ESTABLISHMENT OF AIRPORT COMMITTEE
1.
THE PROPOSALS IN TUR SEEM SENSIBLE. WE AGREE THAT IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE TWO SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES TO CHAIR THE COMMITTEE. THIS SHOULD ENABLE DECISIONS TO BE MADE QUICKLY AND WILL ALSO ALLOW SENIOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE. WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD RESIST HAVING ANY FURTHER TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT MEETINGS SHOULD TAKE PLACE QUICKLY AFTER BEING CALLED: THIS SHOULD IN ANY CASE BE IN THE CHINESE INTEREST SINCE THERE IS A ONE MONTH PERIOD FOR DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AFTER PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE.
2.
WE WONDER HOWEVER WHETHER THE SUGGESTION IN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 7 THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE CHINESE NOMINATION TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THIS FORUM. THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND TO THE AA ARE A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNOR: THE GOVERNOR WILL SIMPLY INFORM THE CHINESE SIDE OF WHOM HE PROPOSES TO APPOINT AND WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF VIEWS. THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE IS MORE OF A CONSULTATIVE BODY. WE DO NOT HAVE STRONG VIEWS ON THIS BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR HONG KONG'S COMMENTS.
3. WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE WELL WORTHWHILE PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TO THE CHINESE ON THE AIRPORT THAN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE SET OUT IN THE MOU STRICTLY DEMAND. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY KEEPING THE CHINESE IN THE DARK AND WE ARE SURE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE GUO THAT PROBING OUTSIDE THE COMMITTEE'S TERMS OF REFERENCE WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
HURD
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