TNAG-1662-FCO40-2310-Hong-Kong-Western-Harbour-Lantau-Strategic-Development-proje-1987 — Page 59

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YOUR TELNO OTTER 82: PROPOSED ROAD/AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

سى

THANK YOU FOR THIS HELPFUL REPORT. WE WOULD AGREE GENERALLY

WITH GORDON WU'S CONTENTION THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR SUBSTANTIAL

UK PARTICIPATION MIGHT WELL RECEDE IF THE PROJECT IS MUCH DELAYED.

WE SHALL ALSO WANT TO ASSURE WU THAT MAJOR BRITISH FIRMS, WITH

UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, ARE GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER AND ARE

KEEN TO PURSUE THE PROJECT (SEE BELOW).

2 PETER COSTAIN SAW CHRISTOPHER HUM, HKD/FCO YESTERDAY TO ASK

X WHETHER THE UK GOVERNMENT WOULD USE ITS INFLUENCE WITH THE HONG

KONG GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER THE PROJECT AND MAXIMISE UK INDUSTRIAL

PARTICIPATION. HUM WARNED COSTAIN OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

SENSITIVITIES AND OF THE LATTER'S WISH TO EXERCISE THEIR OWN

JUDGEMENT. COSTAIN ASKED WHETHER SPECIAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE MIGHT

BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT AS AN EARNEST OF THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT'S GOOD FAITH OVER THE TRANSFER OF POWER. HUM TOLD

COSTAIN HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT

OVER AND ABOVE THAT OF THE OVERSEAS PROJECTS FUND.

3 I TOO HAVE SPOKEN TO PETER COSTAIN, HIS ENGINEERING DIRECTOR,

RON SAMUELS AND I HAD TODAY A LONG TALK WITH THE PROJECT MANAGER

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