CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
HICD 026/2
FM HONG KONG
R!
TO PRIORITY FCO
20
*997
TELNO 553
OF 07114OZ APRIL 93
143635
MDLIAN 5647
8
T
13/¢
the Barnes-Jones
188
FOR:
FROM:
PETER RICKETTS, HKD.
DPS/GH.
YOUR TELNO 294: VISIT BY MR GOODLAD TO HONG KONG.
1. WE AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE A THEME FOR THE VISIT AND WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THREE REASONS. FIRST, IT IS LESS CONTROVERSIAL THAN TRANSPORT, SINCE THE LATTER WOULD NATURALLY DRAW IN THE AIRPORT TO WHICH WE DO NOT WISH TO GIVE A HIGH PROFILE AT PRESENT. SECOND, 5 JUNE IS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY ON WHICH WE HOPE TO PUBLISH A WHITE PAPER ON THE ENVIRONMENT. THIRD, THE MINISTER'S VISIT FALLS IN THE INTERREGNUM BETWEEN THE OUTGOING AND INCOMING SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT.
2. ASSUMING THE MINISTER IS HAPPY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AS A THEME, I HAVE DRAWN UP A PRELIMINARY DRAFT PROGRAMME INCLUDING SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS. THESE ARE:
(A) A THOROUGH BRIEFING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COVERING THE WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY, THE SEWAGE STRATEGY AND THE WORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD):
(B) A VISIT TO MAI PO MARSHES (IN THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES) WHICH IS HONG KONG'S MOST IMPORTANT NATURE RESERVE. IT IS ALSO A WETLAND SITE OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE SINCE IT PROVIDES A PIT-STOP FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRATORY BIRDS ON THEIR WAY FROM SIBERIA TO AUSTRALIA, AND A HOME FOR A NUMBER OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES:
(C) A BOAT TRIP ACROSS THE HARBOUR TO SEE AND BE BRIEFED ON THE EPD'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE HARBOUR. THIS TRIP WOULD INVOLVE EITHER VISITING THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION SITE (FOR THE NEW AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE) WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IS BEING CARRIED OUT OR KOWLOON BAY (NEAR KAI TAK) WHERE TONNES OF CONTAMINATED MUD ARE BEING REMOVED: AND
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