CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 182/2.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 1685
OF 27120OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
(36
065255 MDHIAN 8433
TOP COPY Q DIST?
AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS REPORTS, 26-27 MAY
SUMMARY
1.
SUNDAY'S (26 MAY) PRESS EXTENSIVELY REPORTED COMMENTS BY LU PING TO A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DELEGATION FROM HONG KONG. WEN WEI PO CARRIED A FULL TRANSCRIPT, A COPY OF THE TRANSLATION OF WHICH FOLLOWS BY FAX. TODAY'S (27 MAY) PRESS CONTAINS REPORTS DRAWING ON HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOURCES.
DETAIL
2. LU PING IS REPORTED IN MANY PAPERS ON 26 MAY AS HOPING THAT THE AIRPORT PROPOSALS WOULD BE MADE PUBLIC TO ALLOW HONG KONG PEOPLE TO JUDGE BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE PLANS. THE CHINESE HAD NO INTENTION OF INTERFERING WITH HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT/NOT EXPRESS VIEWS ON THE SITE AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE AIRPORT PROJECT. HKG COULD MAKE ITS OWN DECISIONS. THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE WOULD BE ON AN ADVISORY BASIS AND WOULD HAVE NO DECISION-MAKING POWER.
3.
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT/NOT CHANGED ITS SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE TO HONG KONG'S AIRPORT PROJECT AND WOULD TRY ITS BEST TO ARRIVE AT AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BRITISH. THE CHINESE HAD REPEATEDLY MADE CONCESSIONS DURING THE TALKS. BUT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD TO KEEP IN MIND THE JD AND BL AND THE NEED TO CREATE FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR THE SARG. THE BRITISH HAD ASKED FOR CHINA'S SUPPORT AS THEY NEED TO RAISE FUNDS. IF THE BRITISH HAD NOT ASKED THE CHINESE TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT, THE CHINESE WOULD NOT/NOT HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS.
4.
ON HONG KONG'S FINANCIAL POSITION, LU REFERRED TO BL 107. HKG'S POLICY HAD CHANGED FROM QUOTE SPENDING WITHIN ONE'S MEANS UNQUOTE TO QUOTE INCREASING REVENUE TO MEET EXPENDITURE. THIS WAS NOT WORKABLE. THE CHINESE DID NOT SUPPORT TAX INCREASES. WHILST IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GIVE AN EXACT FIGURE FOR THE CHINESE
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