TNAG-2231-FCO40-3203-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 24

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CONFIDENTIAL

4

-

(j)

Dr

asked

whether

The

Edwards

China's demands on the airport project were very specific. Governor said that China wanted a presence on airport authority. He was prepared to

a new

offer this although some in Hong Kong would be

(k)

critical.

It

communication.

offered a

The

useful

avenue

real

difficulty

China's

desire to

decisions

straddling

1997.

Talks

of

was

be involved in major the on There were airport were to restart on 18 May.

signs that China was worried about Hong Kong's threat to shelve the airport project. If we

were to do that China would be seen to have frustrated the growth of Hong Kong.

some

airport

China.

been

The

some

Mr Halverson asked whether the Chinese wanted the

to

in be located said that there had Governor

from the Shenzhen authorities but it This was not the view in Guangzhou or Peking.

of how diverse China's

pressure

was

an example political thinking was.

(Christopher I C Jackson)

DPS/GH 21.5.91

CONFIDENTIAL