CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3128
OF 241247Z OCTOBER 90
CONFIDENTIAL
1
cızıla
C.
76
002547
MDHIAN 6171
TOR COPY Q DIST?
F..
The 121/2 Mk
30
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM PS/GH
BRITISH INTERESTS IN HONG KONG
1. FOLLOWING YOUR DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR AT GATWICK LAST FRIDAY ABOUT MR SAINSBURY'S VISIT, THE GOVERNOR THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO SEE THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE FROM MR EDWARD
HO'S SPEECH IN THE DEBATE IN LEGCO TODAY:
QUOTE I HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE QUESTION THE MOTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN EMBARKING ON SUCH AMBITIOUS SCHEMES JUST BEFORE THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY. IS THERE A HIDDEN AGENDA, THEY SAY, SUCH THAT BRITISH INTERESTS WILL GAIN A HUGE FINANCIAL PROFIT BEFORE THE END OF THE BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY?
THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT NO UNDUE ADVANTAGE IS GIVEN TO BRITISH INTERESTS, ALTHOUGH I WOULD WELCOME BRITISH INVESTMENT IN THE AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT. INDEED, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT HONG KONG INTERESTS SHOULD FIRST BE SERVED. I AM
CERTAIN THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THIS COUNCIL AND I WILL BE
EXTREMELY VIGILANT IN THIS. IT WOULD ALSO BE OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE
MANNER. UNQUOTE
2. EDWARD HO IS VERY SENSIBLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD MAN. AS YOU WILL SEE, HE HAS BOTH PICKED UP THE CURRENT MYTH, THAT THE CHINESE BELIEVE, TO THE EFFECT THAT THE PLAYING FIELD WILL BE TILTED IN FAVOUR OF BRITISH INTERESTS IN HONG KONG BEFORE 1997, AND HAS ALSO EMPHASISED THE DEGREE OF SCRUTINY THAT IS LIKELY TO BE GIVEN TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. IN THE GOVERNOR'S VIEW, THIS UNDERLINES THE POINT THAT FUELLING SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE FAVOURING OF BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN HONG KONG WILL
DO NO GOOD EITHER TO HMG OR THE HKG.
WILSON
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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