TNAG-1484-FCO40-2038-Proposed-realignment-of-the-Shenzhen-River-1986 — Page 3

ZCZC

LNHPAN 3472 CONFIDENTIAL

TT PEKIN

OCMIAN 4940

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

101545Z DEC

GRS 228

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

HKK 095/1

RECEIVED IN MULTISTP V

15 DEC 1986

HEGISTRY (Ation Take!

INDEX

TO TELELETTER HONG KONG TELELETTER

OF 101545Z DECEMBER 86

AND TO TELELETTER PEKING

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FROM: A M LAYDEN, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO TO: RN PEIRCE ESQ, DPA, HONG KONG

COPIED TO: PA B THOMSON ESQ, CVO, PEKING

TIN SHUI WAI

1.

: SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED BEFORE NOW TO YOUR TL SCR 8/1476/89 OF 5 NOVEMBER: DAVID BLUNT'S TL OF 10 NOVEMBER ALSO REFERS. WE HAVE ALL HAD OTHER THINGS IN OUR MINDS, BUT APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY.

2.

AS YOU SAY, THE DEVIL OR THE DEEP ... IT OCCURRED TO US THAT THERE MIGHT BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FILL THAT COULD BE USED, IN LESS DISPUTED AREAS. BUT CLINTON LEEKS' RECOLLECTION IS THAT FILL OF THE NECESSARY QUALITY FOR HOUSING PROJECTS IS A SCARCE COMMODITY. NO DOUBT YOU WOULD HAVE DECIDED TO USE OTHER SOURCES HAD THERE BEEN ANY.

3.

2

IS THE FILL YOUR NEW CONTRACTOR WOULD EXCAVATE EXACTLY THE SAME STUFF THAT MCL WERE PROPOSING TO DIG OUT? NOTE THAT HIT WAS MCL WHO PROVED THE CHEAP SOURCE IN 1982: DO THEY HAVE RIGHTS OF SOME KIND OVER IT, WHICH THE NEW CONTRACTOR WOULD HAVE TO BUY? IF SO, THEY MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN SEEING THE NEW CONTRACT PROCEED QUIETLY, AS THEY WOULD REALISE SOME RETURN FROM THEIR INTEREST, RATHER THAN PERHAPS HAVING IT RENDERED PROFITLESS BY AN INSOLUBLE DISPUTE.

4.

IN ANY CASE, AGREE THAT THE COURSE DECIDED ON IS THE LESSER OF THE TWO EVILS. WE SHALL HOPE FOR THE BEST.

SIGNED A M LAYDEN

OCMAN 4940

NNNN

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