TNAG-2253-FCO40-3237-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 32

5.

19

CONFIDENTIAL

i

Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)

These unhelpful comments by Chinese spokesmen have received wide coverage in the UK and Hong Kong press.

6.

A

The Way Forward

7. Chinese actions over the last few days will have made the handling of the Governor's visit to Peking, planned for

21-25 January much more difficult. The Governor has received a good deal of advice in Hong Kong (including from members of ExCo) to postpone his visit to Peking next week. We have told the Governor that although there are risks in going to Peking against the unpromising background of last week's events, we agree that the balance of advantage is

B against postponement (Hong Kong telno 141 and Mr McLaren's

reply).

B.

We have also advised the Hong Kong Government so far as possible to avoid actions which could further raise the

political temperature or reduce the chance of

re-establishing the dialogue during the Governor's visit,

for example, postponing a number of airport related

announcement which would otherwise have gone ahead over the next few days.

MAXAHM/3

CONFIDENTIAL