TNAG-2253-FCO40-3237-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 71

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 1409OOZ F C O

TELNO 125

OF 130645Z JANUARY 91

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112103 MDHIAN 8201

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INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PEKING TELNO 20:

PRESS CONFERENCE

33

PADS EXPERT TALKS: 2ND ROUND: 2ND CHINESE

1.

AS MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF TUR, THE CHINESE CALLED A SECOND PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE MORNING OF 13 JANUARY. CHEN ZUO'ER

OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE HKMAO READ OUT A LENGTHY PREPARED STATEMENT. THIS REPEATED A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT LUO HAD SAID THE DAY BEFORE, BUT THERE WERE 3 NEW POINTS:

A)

B)

CHEN SAID THAT ON ALL MATTERS WHICH WERE RELATED TO OR STRADDLED 1997, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD NO POWER TO TAKE UNILATERAL DECISIONS.

CHEN SAID THAT IF THE PROJECTS COULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE 1997, THE CHINESE SIDE WOULD TOTALLY LEAVE THE MATTER ASIDE. BUT AS THEY EXTENDED BEYOND 1997, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD TO OBTAIN CHINA'S AGREEMENT BEFORE IT COULD PROCEED.

(COMMENT:

C)

WHEN ASKED IF NAY NEW LIAISON BODY SHOULD BE SET UP ON THE AIRPORT PROJECTS, CHEN SAID THAT THE CHINESE WOULD NOT PROPOSE THAT. BOTH SIDES COULD EXCHANGE VIEWS THROUGH EXISTING CHANNELS.

Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)

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