TNAG-2254-FCO40-3238-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 105

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 270

OF 25080OZ JANUARY 91

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 182 12.

96

155446 MDHIAN 0600

ва

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 172: PADS:

1

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S REQUEST COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A MORE INCONVENIENT TIME. OUR EXPERTS ARE NOW WORKING FLAT OUT ON THE PREPARATION OF PAPERS FOR THE THIRD ROUND OF EXPERT TALKS

THAT HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR NEXT MONTH. THESE HAVE TO BE PREPARED BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK I.E. BY 1 FEBRUARY. MANY OF THEM, INCLUDING THE LEADER OF THE TEAM, ARE ALSO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE 1991 BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED ON 6 MARCH.

2.

I REALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT I CAN ASK THOSE CONCERNED EITHER

TO TAKE ON THIS ADDITIONAL BURDEN OR TO GIVE IT PRIORITY OVER

THEIR OTHER URGENT TASKS. I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND TO ASK IF THEY WOULD AGREE TO DEFER THE PREPARATION OF THE MEMORANDUM? IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO CO-OPERATE, I AM AFRAID THAT THE MAIN BURDEN OF PREPARING THE MEMORANDUM WILL HAVE TO FALL ON YOU.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

74

.PADS

DISTRIBUTION

75

PUSD

LIMITED

HKD

COMED

ECONOMIC ADVISERS ERD HD/FED NEWS D

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

MR BAYNE

MR MCLAREN

MR MILES

MR BURNS

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL

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