TNAG-1662-FCO40-2310-Hong-Kong-Western-Harbour-Lantau-Strategic-Development-proje-1987 — Page 57

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Mr Liste Mr Hum

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NO DISTRIBUTION

THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED

MY OTTER 92: PROPOSED ROAD/AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

WU ADDRESSED BULLDOGS ON 27 APRIL. IT WAS A FULL HOUSE OF 90 (WE HAD TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF GUESTS). WU WAS SUITABLY IMPRESSED BY THIS DEMONSTRATION OF INTEREST BY BRITISH COMPANIES.

HIS REMARKS (NOTHING NEW EXCEPT FOR THOSE MENTIONED IN FINAL

PARAGRAPH OF THIS TELEGRAM) WERE ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECIEVED. SEVERAL COMPANIES HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIS OFFICE SINCE THE

MEETING.

2. I HAVE ASKED WU IF HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM COMPANIES INDIVIDUALLY

OR THROUGH COSTAINS. HE SAID HE WANTED STUART ELLIOTT, EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR, TO DECIDE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO ELLIOTT. HE AND WU HAVE PETER

COSTAIN WITH THEM THIS WEEKEND AND ELLIOTT BELIEVES HE WILL HAVE

A CLEARER IDEA SOON OF HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED. I WILL TALK TO HIM

AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

3. ELLIOTT TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT WU HAD BEEN DELIGHTED TO HEAR

MR SPICER, PUSS, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, SPEAKING ON

THE RADIO HERE THIS MORNING ABOUT BRITAIN'S KEENESS TO BE

COMMERCIALLY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT (IF IT IS AGREED BY THE HONG

KONG GOVERNMENT). THE MINISTER'S REMARKS WERE OPPORTUNE. ON

SEPARATE OCCASIONS YESTERDAY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOLD MR SPICER

ABOUT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S VIEW OF THE PROJECT AND I WAS

ABLE TO TELL HIM ABOUT THE BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTEREST.

4. I THINK ALL THESE EVENTS (ESPECIALLY THE MINISTER'S REMARKS)

HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO UNDERLINE THE BRITISH INTEREST AND TO

ASSURE WU THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT IS BEHIND THE BRITISH COMPANIES.

LET US SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF MY MEETING WITH ELLIOTT BEFORE

CONSIDERING A LETTER.

5. DURING A CALL ON THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK I EXPLAINED OUR

INTEREST IN THE PROJECT AND I ALSO TALKED BRIEFLY TO THE FINANCIAL

SECRETARY. THE FS SAID HE STILL DOUBTED IF THE NEED FOR A NEW

AIRPORT WAS URGENT. INTERESTINGLY WU HAS A THEORY ABOUT THE

RESISTENCE TO AN EARLY START. HE SAID AT BULLDOGS THAT HE THOUGHT

THE GOVERNMENT WERE BEING INFLUNCED BY AIRLINES WHO WERE CONTENT

TO STAY WITH KAI TAK AND TO STRETCH THE FACILITIES TO THE LIMIT TO MAINTAIN HIGH LOAD FACTORS.

HOLLOWAY

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