CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 165
OF 161235Z JANUARY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
160
CONFIDENTIAL
НИВ 162
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
la
63
123200
MDHIAN 8842
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 81 : PADS : PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
·
1 I CONFIRM THAT, ALTHOUGH THE DECISION ON THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (PAA) TODAY,
THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL AFTER MY VISIT. THE PAA
ALSO DISCUSSED RUNWAY SEPARATION. NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE
MADE ON THIS EITHER. IT HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE PAA
THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP THE CONTENTS OF THE MEETING STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
2. BOTH THE GAZETTINGS PLANNED FOR LATER THIS WEEK HAVE NOW BEEN DEFERRED. THERE IS OF COURSE A RISK, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AWARE OF OUR INTENTION TO GAZETTE, THAT THERE WILL BE SPECULATION THAT THE DEFERRAL IS IN RESPONSE TO THE CHINESE STATEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THAT COULD TRIGGER ALL SORTS OF UNHELPFUL SPECULATION, IT IS PROBABLY MANAGEABLE PROVIDING THAT WE SET A FIRM DATE FOR GAZETTING NEXT WEEK (25 JANUARY). ONE WEEKS DELAY IS ALSO ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL TIMETABLE. WE ARE THEREFORE PROCEEDING ON THIS BASIS.
3. GOING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE TWO BLOCK VOTES HAS ALSO BEEN DEFERRED, ON THE PERFECTLY REASONABLE GROUNDS THAT THERE IS NOT ADEQUATE TIME FOR THE RELEVANT LEGCO AD HOC COMMITTEE TO
RECEIVE AND CONSIDER THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THEY HAVE
REQUESTED BEFORE THE MEETING ON 18 JANUARY.
4. ALL THESE ARE OF COURSE TEMPORARY EXPEDIENTS TO COVER THE SITUATION IMMEDIATELY BEFORE AND DURING MY VISIT. WE WILL VERY QUICKLY FACE THE NEED TO GO AHEAD WITH DECISIONS WHICH WILL BE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE THEREAFTER.
WILSON
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.