TNAG-1738-FCO40-2454-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1988 — Page 33

5.

Another proposal under examination was that from certain large US consortia in the electronics field who wished to take over parts of Zhuhai for their own operations. This was being given careful thought by the local authorities.

6.

Mr Zhan confirmed Zhuhai's satisfactory position with regard to the availability of electric power and telecommunications links with China and the outside world.

7. On the subject of Jiuzhou Port, he acknowledged the silting problem and revealed that it had been decided to examine the possibility of constructing a

new deep water port at Tangjia ( 唐家 ) some 7 kms away from the SEZ in the

vicinity of the golf course. This would be capable of taking vessels of between 40,000 - 50,000 tons and there would be fewer difficulties with silting than at Jiuzhou. A feasibility study would be necessary as the next step for

British consultants this project which it was aimed to undertake during 1988. interested should contact his office.

Mr Zhan said that an agreement had already been signed with the Japanese to co-operate in the construction of a rail link between Zhuhai and Canton and to build a new airport.

The railway would be of great benefit and, he wryly suggested, might be completed before the Shenzhen - Canton highway was finished.

or

Mr

9. As for the airport, the project now appeared to have been postponed even cancelled. Zhuhai would confine itself to a heliport with links to Canton, Shekou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong and co-operate with Macao in the construction of an airport there, assuming that that project went ahead. Zhan expressed in this context some doubts about Hong Kong's intentions regarding airport expansion or construction and whether these would be taken any further.

10. I later asked Mr Song whether central government approval from Peking had been obtained for the Macao airport project. He replied that he did not think this was necessary and when I pointed out that the use of Chinese airspace would surely arise at some stage he commented that "a decision seems to have been taken".

11. In concluding our conversation Mr Zhan said that UK businessmen would always be welcome in Zhuhal. The main foreign (not including Hong Kong) investors in the area were the Americans, a trend initiated by a former US Consul-General in Hong Kong who had visited Zhuhai and been taken aback by the He had exclaimed that the Americans number of Japanese vehicles on its roads!

could do anything that the Japanese could, and certainly the American businessmen had taken a close interest in Zhuhai ever since. He hoped that the British now intended to do likewise.

OM O'Brien Trade Commissioner

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