TNAG-0962-FCO40-1181-Possible-new-airport-for-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 140

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SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST REPORT OF HONG KONG

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COPY

HKK 1821

RECOIVOS

NO. $1

JAN 1990

DISK OFHOR

PROJECT R

10 8/1

TODAY'S SCMP REPORTS THAT A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW AIRPORT FOR

HONG KONG CLOSE TO THE BORDER ON THE CHINESE SIDE IS AWAITING

CLEARANCE BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THE REPORT STATES THAT THE

PLAN HAS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO MR BLAKER WHO IS STUDYING

IT. THE COST OF THE PROJECT IS PUT AT HK DOLLARS 2 BILLION,

TO BE SHARED BY THE CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS AND THE

SYNDICATE OF COMMERCIAL INTERESTS WHO HAVE DRAWN UP THE PROPOSAL.

THE IDENTITY OF THE LATTER IS NOT REVEALED.

see

SUGGESTED THAT

2. WE HAVE CONSULTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WHO

THIS REPORT MAY DERIVE FROM A LETTER HANDED TO MR BLAKER DURING

HIS VISIT HERE IN SEPTEMBER BY A CONSORTIUM HEADED BY ANDREW JEAN

AND ASSOCIATES, A FIRM OF HONG KONG ENTREPENEAURS WHO HAVE SOUGHT

INVOLVEMENT IN A NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE,

WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE GIVEN

SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL.

3. THE SCMP REPORT MAY PERHAPS BEEN INSPIRED BY THE CONSORTIUM

IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY RESPONSE TO THEIR LETTER. IN DEALING WITH

ENQUIRIES WE SHALL TAKE THE LINE THAT THE QUESTION OF A NEW

AIRPORT SERVING HONG KONG IS A MATTER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. MARCH

HWYQD

MARD

FED

TALD ODA

PS/MR BLAKER

ML AWALAY

HR CONSTATE

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