LAST
12
Our ref:
SCR 13/951/68 II
Your ref:
HKK 21/7
by ambience.
そ
in Clewly
This bus вы
arm
COLONIAL SECRETARIAT,
du
нома коралаа
Koffemaal up
HONG
31st Pedamber,
Bk.
(mside the reply
En
Thank you for your letter of 21st December
about C.D. and W. assistance towards equipment for Kai
Tak.
24,
2.
I am afraid that I have not really got our
We point over to you: it is not a question of aid. do not question that, in general terms, Hong Kong no doubt ranks pretty low in any system of priorities based on need. Rather it is a question of who benefits, and to what extent, from the existence of Kai Tak. I agree that Hong Kong does benefit from the existence of this efficient link with the outside world. But, by the same token, Britain also gains considerably from its control over such a valuable bargaining counter in the pursuance of its aviation interests all over the world. I do not need to labour this point: the fact that we are not allowed to grant landing rights to, for example, S.A.S., in the interests of Hong Kong, because it would not be, in the view of the D.T.I., in British interests to do so is only one example of the use of Kai Tak in this way.
3.
In addition, there is the further point made in paragraph 4 of my letter of 29th October, namely, that it is H.M.G's I.C.A.0. obligations we are fulfilling by providing up-to-date equipment at Kai Tak.
4.
All I am trying to say is that, in these circumstances, why should Hong Kong have to meet the whole cost of development of the airport when a large part of the benefit accrues to Britain? There is surely at least a moral obligation on he that calls some of the tunes to assist in paying the piper. We would not regard any assistance towards the cost of Kai Tak facilities as aid, but rather as some contribution towards the more equitable sharing of costs by the beneficiaries. The fact that you might have to charge the contribution to the O.D.A's Aid Vote is really a procedural matter for Whitehall to sort out.
10)
لسله
Men. Happy
E.0. Laird, Esq., C.M.G.,M.B.E., Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, S.W.1.
Yours ever,
(C.P. Haddon-Cave)
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