TNAG-2143-FCO40-3062-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 149

CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted under FOI exemption sections 27(1), 40 and 41.

HKC 18212.

W

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 1863

OF 081735Z OCTOBER 90

*

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

PADS

153

115612 MDHOÀN 8758.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO GORDON WU, REFUTING HIS CRITICISM OF THE PROJECT. WE WOULD FIND IT VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A COPY OF THE FULL TEXT OF THE HKG'S RESPONSE.

2. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC CONTROVERSY OVER THE DIFFERING ESTIMATES OF THE DISBENEFITS TO HONG KONG SHOULD THE AIRPORT PROJECT NOT GO AHEAD. FROM THE PRESS REPORTS I HAVE SEEN, IT SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE DEALT VERY EFFECTIVELY WITH THIS ASPECT. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE USEFUL IF WE COULD HAVE A COPY OF THE RELEVANT MATERIAL PERHAPS A COPY OF THE PUBLIC LINE, TOGETHER WITH SOME INTERNAL ANALYSIS.

3. I AM SURE THAT, IN ANY CASE, THESE ISSUES WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY COVERED IN THE FORTHCOMING EXPERT TALKS WITH THE CHINESE. WE THINK THAT, IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE TALKS, IT WOULD BE HIGHLY DESIRABLE THAT THEY SHOULD BE FULLY RECORDED, AND REPORTED IN THE SAME DEGREE AS DETAIL AS JLG PLENARY MEETINGS. THIS APPLIES PARTICULARLY TO THE SESSIONS ON THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS. MAY WE ASSUME THAT THIS WILL BE DONE?

HURD

YYYY

DISTRIBUTION

22

MAIN

22

LIMITED

HKD

MR MCLAREN MR BURNS

FED

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL

NNNN