TNAG-2260-FCO40-3256-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-pres-1991 — Page 159

CONFIDENTIAL

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013544

MDHOAN 3310

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 909

OF 10180OZ MAY 91

НКВ 18214

RECEIVED

14MAY 1991

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, CANBERRA, JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY

Q DIST?

PERSONAL FOR DEPUTY TO GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD CANBERRA FOR GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG (VISITING)

AIRPORT PROJECT: PRESS LINE

1. AS FORESHADOWED IN OUR TELNO 877 PARA 6 AND DISCUSSED IN YOUR TELNO 1440 PARA 5 IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL AT THE END OF THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS TO HAVE CONTINGENCY PUBLIC LINES AGREED IN ADVANCE BETWEEN US. THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE OUTCOME WILL BE ALMOST AS IMPORTANT AS THE OUTCOME ITSELF. THE CHINESE LAUNCHED A MEDIA CAMPAIGN THE MOMENT THE LAST ROUND OF TALKS HAD AD JOURNED. WE WANT TO AVOID MEGAPHONE DIPLOMACY, BUT MUST MAKE SURE OUR SIDE OF THE STORY IS HEARD PUBLICLY. THIS NEED NOT MEAN A PUBLIC ROW: INDEED PART OF OUR PUBLIC LINE CAN BE OUR DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE TO SEEK COOPERATION WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG.

2.

IF WE REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON THE AIRPORT AND ON CONSULTATION, THE PUBLIC LINE WILL BE RELATIVELY STRAIGHT FORWARD AND PROBABLY AGREED WITH THE CHINESE. WE MAY BE CRITICISED FOR CONCEDING TOO MUCH ON CONSULTATION (AND IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO REBUT THAT CRITICISM WITHOUT AROUSING CHINESE SUSPICIONS THAT WE ARE RETRACTING FROM THE AGREEMENT). BUT,

BUT, AS WE SEE IT, THE REAL PROBLEM WILL BE A PUBLIC LINE IF WE DO NOT/NOT REACH AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A DECISION BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO SHELVE THE CURRENT AIRPORT PROJECT. WE WOULD SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS FOR PRESS BRIEFING.

PUBLIC LINE

WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS. GRATEFUL TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY AND APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF THE CHINESE NEGOTIATING TEAM.

REGRET THAT THE OUTCOME OF OUR TALKS HAS NOT BEEN ALL WE WOULD

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CONFIDENTIAL