TNAG-1029-FCO40-1279-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 6

(d) that the DCA should now approach the CAAC about the

technical and practical aspects of planning for the replace- ment airport at Chek Lap Kok (paragraphs 4, 6(c) and 10 above);

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(e) that consideration of the desirability of approaching

the Chinese authorities about the financing of the project (paragraph 6 above) be deferred until later; and

(f) that the Government should reconsider the question of

an airport in China only if the political advantage of an offer made by the Chinese appeared to outweigh all the practical disadvantages.

Public Relations Aspects

Consultation

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As was mentioned in paragraph 13 of memorandum XCC(80)101 (annexed), no consultative bodies have been asked to advise on this question.

Public Reaction

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In the intervening period since the Council considered the earlier memorandum, there has been no significant public debate on this issue, nor is it thought likely to attract such attention in the near future.

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Publicity

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Should the proposals in paragraph 11 be approved, no special publicity should be arranged because, as consistently stated in the past, the Government is proceeding on the basis of Chek Lap Kok as the site for a possible replacement airport. It was recently publicised in the media that the DCA was considering a short-list of candidates for conducting an airport master planning study for Chek Lap Kok and that the successful candidate was expected to be appointed in February 1981, Little interest was evinced by the public. The appointment will discourage speculation about the possibility of alternative sites. However, should there be further speculation about the possibility of the replacement airport being sited in China, the Government will discount and discourage it, and point out that planning on whether to build at Chek Lap Kok is going ahead according to schedule. It can also be stated that the final decision is not expected to be announced before 1982.

SECRET