TNAG-2141-FCO40-3060-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 82

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MDHIAN 6337

GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO INVESTMENT IS PROBABLY TACTICALLY WRONG. WE KNOW THAT THE ANSWER WILL BE, AS LI PENG HAS SAID SEVERAL TIMES, THAT THEY ARE SHORT OF FUNDS AND HAVE NONE TO SPARE.

5. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS INVITED THE TWO ECONOMIC VICE

DIRECTORS OF NCNA TO LUNCH IN MID-JULY TO BRIEF THEM INFORMALLY ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECTS, LETTING THEM KNOW IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE VARIOUS CONSULTANTS WE ARE APPOINTING. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP CREATE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE TAKING THEM INTO OUR

CONFIDENCE AS THE PLANS DEVELOP.

6. YOU SHOULD INCIDENTALLY BE AWARE THAT, ACCORDING TO THE SUNDAY MORNING POST OF 24 JUNE, A TEAM FROM PEKING HAS RECENTLY PAID A VISIT TO HONG KONG TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR THE AIRPORT WITH SOME OF THEIR PROPONENTS. THESE INCLUDE NIM WAN IN DEEP BAY (PROPOSED BY SOME ACADEMICS), HEILINGCHAU (PROPOSED BY GORDON WU), AND CONTINUING TO USE KAI TAK FOR SHORT-HAUL FLIGHTS WHILE BUILDING

A SMALLER AIRPORT FOR LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS. ASSUMING THIS VISIT DID TAKE PLACE, IT MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN ZHOU NAN'S REMARKS TO ME ON THE AIRPORT (MY TELEGRAM NO. 1927).

WILSON

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ΜΑΙΝ

65

LIMITED

HKD

FED

NEWS DEPT

PUSD

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DISTRIBUTION

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PS/MR MAUDE

PS/PUS

MR MCLAREN

MR WESTON MR BURNS

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