TNAG-1175-FCO40-1477-Proposed-replacement-airport-for-Hong-Kong-at-Deep-Bay-or-Ch-1982 — Page 99

CODE 18 77

Reference

Ник

Mr Caines

CONFIDENTIAL M. Wellman.

18211 Katalonsk

3/ Money

BOLO PER LA PEAU KAN 51 her agen

INDEX

3 - JUN 1962

сс Mr Benjamin Mr Muir

As Mr March

73/6

OT4

Hong Kong

Mr Clift

FCO

MEE

Imany problems. Mr Adams

If the comms off Цвий спин Post it would souve

уз

HONG KONG: NEW AIRFORT

3/6 Plus 3/61

No

Ca

3.6.82

The main reason for your meeting with Mr Bremridge, Financial Secretary in Hong Kong is to discuss the attitude of the Hong Kong Government to the new airport. You already have the background to the project in your briefing for the trip to Hong Kong.

19

2 Our interest in the airport is to see if there is any chance of persuading the Hong Kong Government to negotiate a contract for a British grouping to build the new airport. At present the Hong Kong Government seem to be hesitating over the new airport for three main reasons:

3

a) the new Governor wants to be sure that an airport is necessary and, if so, whether it should be at Chep Lap Kok;

b) although the obvious place for an airport is at Chep Lap Kok, it interfers with plans for the development of the North West New Territories;

c) doubts as to whether Hong Kong can raise the finance until the post 1997 situation is clearer even the present airport at Kai Tak is in the New Territoris, so investors could be chary of extensive developments there which will not be fully repaid by 1997.

The second problem is not one we can influence, and, in any case, it probably lies a good second in the Governor's mind behind the third, which is the area you will want to concentrate on with Mr Bremridge. (Mr Clift, FCO, says that he would expect Mr Brenridge to be ready to talk freely and frankly about the problems and possible solutions).

CONFIUENTIAL

1