TNAG-2258-FCO40-3254-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-Brit-1991 — Page 210

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BTC HONG KONG TO IMMEDIATE DTI

TELNO OTTER 38

OF 250915Z JANUARY 91

HKL 182 13

Pillad st

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Kaker

Mr Buns

Mr Pau

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21

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MDHIAN 0633

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FOR LOVE, OT2/2, FROM SUE BISHOP, PS/SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY

1.

THE FOLLOWING IS MY RECORD OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CALL ON THE GOVERNOR ON 20 JANUARY. PLEASE PROCESS THIS IN THE FORM OF A MINUTE FROM ME TO YOU COPIED TO PS/MET, MR DELL, MR ADAMS, MR MEADWAY (OT2), MR ROGERS, MR LEWIS (OT2/2/D), MR MCBRIDE (INF), MR MAYHEW, MR HEAP (BTC), AND ANY OTHERS YOU THINK APPROPRIATE.

BEGINS:

MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG 20 JANUARY 91

1.

YOU WERE PRESENT WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE MET THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ON 20 JANUARY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE TO DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PADS PROJECT. MR HEAP AND MR ADAMS WERE ALSO PRESENT.

2. THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINED SOME OF THE BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT. THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT A NEW AIRPORT WAS NEEDED, AS ESTIMATES SHOWED THAT KAI TAK WOULD BE SATURATED BY 1993/5. PLANS WERE WELL ADVANCED IN THE EARLY 1980S AND WITH HINDSIGHT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT A DECISION HAD BEEN DELAYED BY POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. HE FELT STRONGLY THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)

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