TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 164

KONG.

UNCLASSIFIED

000025 MDLIÁN 9663

FUTURE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

8. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IT WAS STILL TOO EARLY AT THE MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT DETAILS OF CONTINUITY OF EXCO AFTER 1997, THE MEDIA (7.9) REPORTED. ''WHAT WE WANT IS CONTINUITY OF ADMINISTRATION: CONTINUITY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE. AND WHEN WE COME NEARER 1997, I THINK WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE QUESTION OF CONTINUITY OF PERSONNEL, BOTH IN SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE POSTS AND POSSIBLY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AS WELL, HE SAID. BARONESS DUNN SAID THAT IT WAS TOO EARLY TO DISCUSS NOW THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE EXCO, THE MEDIA (6.9) REPORTED. HOWEVER, SHE HOPED THAT THE TWO SIDES WOULD ENGAGE IN A FRIENDLY, TRUSTING, OPEN AND FRANK ON-GOING DIALOGUE ON THE SUBJECT IN ORDER TO WORK OUT A WAY TO ENABLE EXCO TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997.

REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT

9. PROPERTY DEVELOPER GORDON WU CAST DOUBT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO BUILD THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING, THE MEDIA 5 AND 7.9) REPORTED. IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PORT AND AIRPORT PLANS, WU CRITICISED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT- APPOINTED CONSULTANTS OVER THE BUILDING OF THE DOLLARS 6 BILLION CROSSING LINKING TSING YI TO MA WAN. HE DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS AS IMPRACTICAL AND A WASTE. HE CLAIMED THAT HIS OWN PROPOSALS WOULD SAVE UP TO DOLLARS 60 BILLION OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S PROJECT. HE SAID THAT A CHEAPER PROJECT WOULD EASILY GAIN THE SUPPORT OF CHINA.

DEFENCE

10. ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS BETWEEN EXPERTS OF THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES OF THE JLG TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER WOULD BE HELD IN HONG KONG ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND 12, THE MEDIA (11.9) REPORTED. THE REPORTS SAID THAT THE RECENT SPATE OF ARMED ROBBERIES INVOLVED THUGS FROM THE MAINLAND WOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE EXPERTS. RTHK AND SOME PAPERS, QUOTING SOURCES, SAID THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WOULD FORMALLY RAISE THE QUESTION OF MOVING THE HMS TAMAR NAVAL BASE TO STONECUTTERS ISLAND. THE BRITISH SIDE HOPED TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE SIDE TO CONTINUE TO USE THE ISLAND AS THE NAVAL BASE AFTER 1997. SOME REPORTS SAID THAT THE FUTURE OF THE BRITISH MILITARY HOSPITAL WAS ALSO LIKELY TO COME UP DURING THE TALKS.

WILSON

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