CONFIDENTIAL
Consultation with the Chinese
7. Contacts since the beginning of the Airport MOU have
been trouble-free so far. There is a cloud on the horizon,
however, with HKG's discovery that the latest estimate for
the airport railway cost is much higher than expected (para
A 5 of Hong Kong telno 129). Once EXCO have decided whether
it wants to proceed with the railway, we shall have to
consider how to handle the Chinese. We shall in any case need to consult them on a number of Airport issues in the
next few months, and will need quick answers if the timing
is not to slip. It is too early yet to know which aspects
the Secretary of State should pursue with Qian in March: but
there are likely to be some.
PIGADF/3
CONFIDENTIAL
Длян
PF Ricketts
188-273