TNAG-2050-FCO40-2920-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 30

LORD CAITHNESS' VISIT TO JAPAN AND KOREA, 9-16 DECEMBER 1990

HONG KONG

Points to make

PADS

- Grateful for Japan's continuing support for Hong Kong. Welcome high level of Japanese business involvement there.

Most important contribution Japan could make to maintaining confidence is to continue to invest in Japan, particularly in new airport project which is vital to Hong Kong's long term future.

- New airport and port expansion should provide major opportunities for Japanese companies and for Anglo-Japanese cooperation. Hope that Anglo-Japanese consortium

(Mitsui/Trafalgar House/ Costains), which has HMG's full

-

support will succeed in making a bid for Lantau Bridge and other key elements of PADS.

We and Hong

Clearly important to bring Chinese on side. Kong Government have been making every effort to convince China of merits of project. Encouraged by fact that Chinese leadership have clearly acknowledged need for a new international airport in Hong Kong.

-

Chinese experts visited Hong Kong in October for detailed briefing on technical and financial aspects. HKG willing to have further expert talks if Chinese would find this useful. Grateful for anything Japan could do to influence Chinese

over PADS.

POMACB/1

CONFIDENTIAL

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