RESTRICTED
062506
MDHIAN 8263
AS A SITE FOR A NEW AIRPORT.
8. THERE WERE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF EDITORIAL COMMENTS IN THE NON-COMMUNIST CHINESE PRESS. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE VARIED AND FAMILIAR. TIN TIN DAILY NEWS, THE HONG KONG DAILY NEWS, SING TAO JIH PAO AND THE ORIENTAL DAILY NEWS SAID THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE INFORMED OF WHAT THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE AIRPORT WERE. THERE SHOULD BE NO SECRETS. THE HONG KONG TIMES (PRO- TAIWAN) SAID THAT HKG SHOULD MAKE A DECISION ON ITS OWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD WELCOME A DECISION EITHER TO BUILD OR ABANDON THE PROJECT. WAN KIU YAT PO ARGUED THAT HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY DID NOT/NOT HINGE ON THE AIRPORT PROJECT. HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD NOT/NOT BE UNDULY WORRIED IF THE PROJECT WERE SHELVED. IF BOTH SIDES MAINTAINED CONTACT, THERE WAS STILL HOPE OF SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
COMMENT
9. THE CHINESE ARE PLAYING UP THEIR TEXT. THEY ARE STRESSING THEIR QUOTE CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE UNQUOTE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAY THE BLAME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE TALKS ON THE BRITISH. WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE MUCH MORE OF THE SAME OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THE INDEPENDENT PAPERS ARE TAKING A MORE EVEN-HANDED AND NON-COMMITTAL LINE.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
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
MR S WIGHTMAN CABINET OFFICE
ADDITIONAL
9
SIR P CRADOCK (NO 10)
PAGE RESTRICTED
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