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between announcing a coeessional financing package for China which could be difficult, and announcing a specific success for British industry on a specific project, such as the Guang zhou metro including some ATP support, which would be welcomed
here;
a possible meeting between the Secretary of State and
Qian. The Secretary of State said that he was reluctant to
bring forward the timing of his next meeting with Qian lest it
be interpreted as backing away from the Governor's proposals.
The Governor commented that it might be enough to secure the
presentational point if the Secretary of State made clear that
he was willing to have a meeting with Qian before legislation
went to LegCo, if Qian thought that useful.
Mr Goodlad confirmed that he agreed with this approach.
13.
On the airport, the Governor said that we would not make progess while the current row lasted. There were really only three options: to abandon the project: to build it entirely
out of Hong Kong's resources (but that would be imprudent) or to build as much as possible using the resources already
earmarked. The Governor noted that HKG intended to go ahead
and let the Airport Site Preparation Contract. He expected
the Chinese to try hard to stop this.
14. The Secretary of State said that HMG's role could be:
to keep the business community here briefed.
to lobby the Clinton Administration over MFN for China.
to keep the Community and the Japanese on side.
and to deal with any Parliamentary interest.
sofshk.GEN.kr
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