TNAG-1738-FCO40-2454-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1988 — Page 43

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BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION

HONG KONG.

25 January 1988

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C B Benjamin Esq

Engineering Markets Division Department of Trade & Industry

1 Victoria Street

LONDON SW1H OET.

Dear Chris,

MACAO: LARGE PROJECTS

With only 12 years to go before Macao becomes a Special Administrative Region of China, the new authorities there are giving some serious thought to a number of large projects. The Governor told me last week he was determined that several of the projects should come to fruition. He had no doubt the proposed airport would be built; also the bridge between Taipa and Macao; and a residential and commercial development, Taipa City.

2. Of course, there are sceptics in Macao; many people claim they have seen such enthusiasm before and it is true there is a history of projects proposed and forgotten and projects begun and abandoned. Nevertheless I was impressed by the apparent enthusiasm of the new Administration. The Secretary for Public Works said he and his colleagues saw it as a challenge and they hoped that as a result of their efforts Macao would continue after 1999 as a foothold for Portuguese and European businessmen in China.

3. I have sent the attached market pointer to EIS. You will see that Gordon Wu of Hopewell Holdings is mentioned. He will build Taipa City and possibly the bridge. He is not interested in the airport; he does not think it will be viable and, of course, he is still waiting for the Hong Kong Government to pronounce on his plan for a new airport off Lantau.

4. With regard to the Macao airport, the Secretary for Special Projects, Luis Vasconcelos, told me he had spoken at one stage to British Airports International and had encouraged them to become involved. He was rather vague about this but you may care to alert BAI to the fact that the airport is, once again, under serious study.

5. I understand from Stanley Ho, the Managing Director of STDM (this in confidence) that not only have the Chinese authorities decided to drop the idea of an airport at Zhuhai, but they have agreed to delay the proposed airport at Shenzhen to give the Macao project a chance. He also claimed that the Chinese authorities would be willing to allow services between Macao and all parts of China (so long as CAAC were involved) and that they would welcome the transfer

/of

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