TNAG-2260-FCO40-3256-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-pres-1991 — Page 108

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HONG KONG PEOPLE HOPED THAT THE BRITISH WOULD SHOW SINCERITY AND DISCUSS AND CO-OPERATE WITH THE CHINESE TO GET A NEW AIRPORT BUILT. THE SECOND SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT/NOT AND WOULD NOT/NOT BECOME INDEPENDENT. ITS AFFAIRS HAD TO BE SORTED OUT BETWEEN CHINA AND BRITAIN. THE THIRD SAID THAT IF HKG SHELVE THE PROJECT, THEY SHOULD ALSO ANNOUNCE A GUARANTEE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO INCREASE IN TAXES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. A COLUMN IN TA

KUNG PAO SAID THE CHINESE SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRINCIPLES AND MAKE SURE AIRPORT FINANCES WERE WORKED OUT PROPERLY. UNLIKE THE BRITISH, CHINA WAS NOT/NOT AFRAID OF TELLING HONG KONG PEOPLE ITS STANCE AND ITS PRINCIPLES.

COMMENT

5. THE CHINESE HAVE REACTED TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIRPORT BEING SCRAPPED BY TAKING A HARD PUBLIC LINE (NO CONCESSIONS, HKG ACTING IRRESPONSIBLY ETC,.). BUT MANY PAPERS CONTINUE TO QUOTE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOURCES AS SAYING THAT THERE WAS A STRONG WILL IN HKG TO SHELVE THE AIRPORT IN A BID TO AVOID CHINA BEING ABLE TO EXAMINE ISSUES STRADDLING 1997.

WILSON

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MAIN

PADS SECRET

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

HD/NEWS D

HD/PUSD

31

DISTRIBUTION

40

HD/PLANNERS

PS

PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/PUS

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

ADDITIONAL

SIR P CRADOCK (NO 10)

PS/NO.10

MS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR JP MCINTYRE HM TRESY

MR APPLEYARD CABINET OFFICE

MR S WIGHTMAN CABINET OFFICE

MR GOWAN CABINET OFFICE

MR A CHARLTON CABINET OFFICE MR WYE RAD

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