TNAG-0210-FCO40-246-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-visit-of-Deputy-Under-Secret-1969 — Page 91

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13.

are:-

(c)

(a)

at the expense of countries whose needs

are far greater. They argue that in any event

Hong Kong's case for assistance rests on the

benefit which would accrue to British civil

aviation from the projected improvements.

In these circumstances they think that the source of any funds to be found for this

project should be the Board of Trade.

The Board of Trade has inadequate funds although

they concede that the improvement of Kai Tak

airport would be to the advantage of U.K.

civil aviation interests.

E.C.G.D. and the Treasury are prepared in the

last analysis, if it would serve a useful purpose

to allow no more than a statement on the lines

that the "normal commercial facilities of E.C.G.D.

are available for exports connected with this scheme." However not only is it difficult to see

at this stage what purpose such a statement of the obvious would serve, but the Hong Kong

Government with its invariable practice of putting works out to open international tender would not be able to guarantee that the whole works and

services would be awarded to British contractors.

Other more remote possibilities which have been examined

(i) Loan from British banks.

(ii) Loan from the World Bank.

(iii) Loan from the Asian Development Bank.

(iv)

Continental Loan.

None of these has led anywhere.

There have been rumours

(Press reports of a statement by the President) that the

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/Asian