TNAG-2255-FCO40-3239-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 67

38

CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27 (1)

103662 MDHIAN.79

TWO OF HONG KONG TELNO 581 OFFERS A SENSIBLE WAY TO SEEK RESOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS OF SUCH A STRATEGY BEFORE LU PING'S VISIT TO HONG KONG.

THE

TRICK NOW IS TO FIRE A WARNING SHOT ON PADS WITH MINISTERIAL AUTHORITY WITHOUT SOURING THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THE JI PENGFEI/LU PING VISIT.

4. WE ARE INCLINED TO AGREE WITH THE IMMEDIATE NEXT STEP IN PARA 5 OF TELNO 581. THE MESSAGE WE NEED TO GET ACROSS IS THAT

WE ARE STILL

WILLING TO MAKE A FLEXIBLE RESPONSE TO ANY REASONABLE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE CHINESE SIDE.

5. I SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD AIM TO MAKE THE POINTS IN PARA 5 OF FOURTH TUR TO TIAN ZENGPEI AS THE SENIOR MFA VICE MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SIR ALAN DONALD WILL BE AWAY FROM PEKING UNTIL 7 MARCH. THIS NEED NOT BE AN INSUPERABLE OBSTACLE. I HAVE MET TIAN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING MR MAUDE'S VISIT AND I WOULD IN ANY CASE BE ASKING FOR A CALL ON THE EXPRESS AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

COATES

YYYY

MAIN

22

LIMITED

HKD

FED

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

22

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

PAGE

2

CONFIDENTIAL

교육

!'