RESTRICTED
141016
MDTTAN 9128
COMMENT
7. THERE IS AN AWARENESS IN MACAU THAT MUCH OF THE HOPED FOR
DIVERSIFICATION OF EXPORTS AND GREATER INTERNATIONALISATION OF MACAU'S ECONOMY (NOT LEAST TOURISM) DEPENDS ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PLANNED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. PESSOA ALSO SAID THAT IN THE PAST BOTH THE COST AND THE DESIGN OF THE AIRPORT HAS
BEEN CHANGED TOO OFTEN. HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE MACAU GOVERNOR'S RETURN TO LISBON NEXT WEEK WOULD INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT.
CASTRO SILVA EVEN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT STAY LONG IN MACAU UNLESS THE AIRPORT WAS COMPLETED. HE ALSO SUGGESTED PINTO WAS AWARE OF OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR INTERESTS WHICH, TOGETHER WITH GREATER PARTICIPATION FROM THE MACAU GOVERNMENT, SHOULD MAKE UP THE NECESSARY 6.5 OR 7 BILLION HONG KONG DOLLARS REQUIRED FOR THE
PROJECT. THERE WAS THEREFORE AN AIR OF OPTIMISM ABOUT THE
FINANCES.
8. THE PROBLEMS OF TRAFFIC RIGHTS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL ARE FOR CAA, AND THESE WILL BECOME CLEARER AFTER THE NEXT ROUND OF JLG TALKS. WE SHOULD NOW PLAN FOR A VISIT BY UKAG, WITH A STRONG PITCH FOR A ROLE IN MANAGING BOTH THE TERMINAL COMPLETION AND THE
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT NEEDED FOR THE AIRPORT. THIS SHOULD IDEALLY TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF AUGUST OR
THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER. IT IS A PITY THAT I WILL BE ON LEAVE AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH IF UKAG WERE TO PLAN THIS TRIP AFTER 2 OR 3 SEPTEMBER (THE DATES I HAVE PROPOSED FOR A UKAG BRIEFING ON MY AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN CHINA, INCLUDING MACAU, SECTOR REPORT) THEN I COULD STILL GIVE THEM SOME UP TO DATE BRIEFING
BEFORE THEY LEFT.
SIGNED: GRAHAM
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