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CONFIDENTIAL
From:
R A Burns
Date:
9 May 1991
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Cc:
Sir J Coles
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нив 18213.
20
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PS/Lord Caithness
Mr Paul, HKD
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HONG KONG : AIRPORT PROJECT : BECHTEL
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1. The DTI have sought our advice on how to respond to an approach on behalf of Bechtel as to whether they could usefully deploy Mr George Shultz or Dr Henry Kissinger to speak to the Chinese leadership about the airport project. We consulted Hong Kong and the Governor's views are set out in Hong Kong Telno 1411.
2.
I discussed this further with Mr Adams (DTI) this afternoon. Bechtel are the Project Managers for the airport project and therefore have a clear interest in helping to ensure that they have as free a hand as possible in building the airport. Bechtel were once strong contenders with British companies for the project management contract. They can now take a more dispassionate view in their present role, although it is probably true that they are continuing to look at ways of extending their interests in Hong Kong.
3. As we understand their proposal, either Mr Shultz or Dr Kissinger would be speaking to the Chinese on the basis of their historical dealings with China and pressing the need for a co-operative solution over the airport in the very broad context of China's relations with the West. Obviously they would not disguise their Bechtel connections, which would be well known to the Chinese, but the purpose of the exercise would be to play upon their stature as international statesmen.
4.
Clearly, any visit to Peking by either of these gentlemen could run them up against some quite awkward questions about the project, and we would need to brief them in advance. So it would be important for us, or the Hong Kong Government rather, to make sure that they were properly up-to-date. In practice, I find it difficult to think that either would get out to Peking before my own talks begin.
5.
On the other hand, it would be possible for Bechtel to send a message through Mr Shultz or Dr Kissinger, and I can see some advantage in a message of the kind outlined by the Governor being conveyed by distinguished Americans to the Chinese in advance of my talks, at a time when the Chinese are known to want to keep the Americans sweet over MFN.
/6.
CONFIDENTIAL
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