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MDHIAN 5250
65
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO
IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 163
OF 061144Z MAY 91
PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUS.
HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT.
т
1. AS YOU ARE AWARE, I AM NOT SEEING THE TELEGRAMS ON THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THIS PROJECT. I DO NOT KNOW THEREFORE WHETHER THE COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE PRESENT SITUATION IS BEING TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IT IS ALREADY SIGNIFICANT AND COULD BECOME CONSIDERABLE AND DAMAGING. CATHAY PACIFIC ARE LIKELY TO DECIDE TODAY 6 MAY TO PUT ON HOLD THEIR PLANNED ORDER FOR BOEING 777 AIRCRAFT AND THEREFORE THE ORDER, WHICH IS OF ENORMOUS IMPORTANCE TO ROLLS ROYCE FOR THEIR ENGINES FOR THAT AIRCRAFT. THIS DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT AIRPORT SITUATION. THEIR CHAIRMAN HERE (WHO HAS TOLD ME THIS IN CONFIDENCE) SAYS IT WOULD BE MADNESS TO MAKE NEW MAJOR INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE. SIMILARLY FLETCHER, A DIRECTOR OF TRAFALGAR HOUSE, TOLD ME LAST WEEK THAT NO REPUTABLE COMPANY IN CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BID FOR THE BRIDGES FOR THE AIRPORT PROJECT UNTIL DIFFICULTIES WITH CHINA WERE RESOLVED AND CHINA'S APPROVAL RECEIVED. THE COST OF BIDDING WOULD BE OVER POUNDS 1 MILLION, WHICH IS NOT EXPENDITURE A COMPANY WOULD UNDERTAKE WHEN THERE SEEMED ANY CHANCE OF THE PROJECT ABORTING.
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PADS SECRET
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DISTRIBUTION
40
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PS/LORD CAITHNESS
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LIMITED
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