TNAG-1940-FCO40-2766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 219

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MDHIAN

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6.

ON THE CENTRAL-WANCHAI RECLAMATION AND THE EXISTING NAVAL BASE, WE AGREE THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW A STRATEGY WHICH WILL PLACE US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION WHEN WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE A DECISION. DELAYING AN ANNOUNCEMENT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR IS NOT HOWEVER LIKELY TO BE EITHER PRACTICABLE OR DESIRABLE, GIVEN THE NOW WIDESPREAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE STAGE WE HAVE REACHED IN THE CONSULTANTS STUDY OF THE RECLAMATION PROJECT IT IS DOUBTFUL IF THE CONSULTANTS FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL THAT I SHOULD ANNOUNCE A DECISION IN MY ADDRESS TO LEGCO IN OCTOBER, THIS WOULD BE THE NATURAL PLACE FOR ME TO DO SO, IN THE CONTEXT OF REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED RECLAMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE PORT, THE AIRPORT, AND THE WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION. LEAVING OUR ALL REFERENCE TO THE CENTRAL- WANCHAI RECLAMATION IN MY ADDRESS WOULD BE AN OBVIOUS MISSING LINK IN OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY. THIS IN ITSELF WOULD RAISE UNHELPFUL SPECULATION. AND IT WOULD FURTHER UNDERMINE THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR ARGUMENT TO THE CHINESE THAT EARLY DECISIONS ON THE PROJECT ARE VITAL.

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