RESTRICTED
033222
MDTTAN 7637
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO TELELETTER DTI
TELELETTER NFR
OF 120102Z FEBRUARY 91
AND TO TELELETTER LISBON, PEKING, FCO
FROM: RICHARD GRAHAM, BTC
FOR:
·
JOHN GALLAHER ESQ, PEP 1 DTI COPIED TO: STEPHEN BRADLEY ESQ, DPA, HKG
JS BUTT ESQ, LISBON
S RIORDAN ESQ, PEKING
места
سرية
Mr Stme
C SAINTY ESQ, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO
SAINTY
MACAU'S FRUSTRATION AT AIRPORT IMPASSE
pa
Marial.
1. DURING A DISCUSSION WITH MICHAEL COLVIN MP AND MACAU DIPLOMATIC ADVISER JOSE FONSECA ON FRIDAY 8 FEBRUARY IT EMERGED THAT TALKS WITH THE CHINESE ON MACAU'S AIRPORT DURING THE WEEK HAD ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN.
2. FINSECA SAID THAT PUBLIC WORKS UNDER SECRETARY VASCONCELOS AND AIRPORT COMPANY CHAIRMAN FERREIRA HAD TAKEN THE LINE THAT THE CHINESE HAD PROMISED A RESPONSE ON MACAU'S CASE ON POSSIBLE ENVIROMENTAL POLLUTION FROM THE AIRPORT BY THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AT THE LATEST. IT WAS NOW FEBRUARY: WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE? THE CHINESE HAD SAID THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO STUDY THE SITUATION AND MAKE A DECISION.
3. FERREIRA IN PARTICULAR HAD EXPLODED AND SAID THAT THE AIRPORT HAD ALREADY BEEN DELAYED A YEAR FIRSTLY BY INADEQUATE SAND DELIVERIES AND SECONDLY BY THE TALKS ON NOISE POLLUTION. IF THE CHINESE DID NOT RESPOND SOON MACAU WOULD BE OBLIGED TO CANCEL THE PROJECT AND EXPLAIN PUBLICLY THAT THE REASON WAS DUE TO LACK OF CHINESE CO-OPERATION. (FONSECA ADDED THAT THE SINO-LUSITANIAN JOINT DECLARATION INCLUDED THE PHRASE THAT CO-OPERATION ON MACAU 'SHOULD BE IN A FRIENDLY MANNER'. MACAU DID NOT BELIEVE THIS CONTINUED DELAY WAS IN ANY WAY FRIENDLY.)
4. I ASKED WHAT THE CHINESE REACTION HAD BEEN FONSECA (WHO WAS NOT PRESENT AT THE MEETING) SAID THE CHINESE HAD ASKED THAT NO DECISIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TOO QUICKLY (THERE SEEMED LITTLE DANGER OF THIS HAPPENING ON THE CHINESE SIDE), AND THAT THEY WOULD TRY
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