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163034 MDADAN 8769
MADE IT APPEAR THAT HKG WAS GOING AHEAD WITH THE TENDERING FOR
THE TSING-MA BRIDGE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE AIRPORT WOULD BE
BUILT AT CHEP LAP KOK. HKG WAS TALKING ABOUT SHELVING THE PROJECT YET STILL GOING AHEAD WITH THE WORK. THIS WAS TO FORCE CHINA TO ACCEPT A FAIT ACCOMPLI (COMMENT: A PARTICULARLY FAR-FETCHED
VERSION OF THE CONSPIRACY, INDICATING MORE CONTROL OVER WHAT IS SAID TO THE PRESS - AND REPORTED BY THEM THAN WE COULD EVER
HOPE TO HAVE).
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5. ANOTHER COLUMN IN WEN WEI PO CALLS FOR GREATER PRIVATE SECTOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE AIRPORT. I SUGGESTS THAT HKG USE SAY 30-40 BILLION DOLLARS FROM THE RESERVES, AND THAT COMMERCIAL CIRCLES IN HK FORM AN AIRPORT INVESTMENT COMPANY WHICH COULD ISSUE LONG TERM
BONDS WHICH WOULD MATURE BEYOND 1997. THIS COULD NOT BE RESOLVED
UNTIL AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS. IF
THE SCALE OF INVESTMENT NEEDED FOR THE AIRPORT WERE TO BE REDUCED TO A MORE APPROPRIATE LEVEL, SO MUCH THE BETTER.
6. ONE OTHER INTERESTING ITEM IS A REPORT IN THE HK ECONOMIC
TIMES QUOTING CHINESE SOURCES AS SAYING THE CHINESE MIGHT NOT/NOT INSIST ON THE WORD CONSULTATION (SHENYI) REGARDING MAJOR ISSUES STRADDLING 1997. THEY MIGHT BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT CONSULTATION OR DISCUSSION (XIESHANG OR CUOSHANG) TO INDICATE THE NEED FOR CO- OPERATIOΝ.
COMMENT
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7 THE CHINESE CONTINUE TO TALK UP THE VIRTUES TO HK OF A NEW AIRPORT, ALBEIT STILL EMPHASISING THE SLOGAN THAT IT SHOULD BE LOW IN INVESTMENT, HIGH IN EFFICIENCY (ZHOU NAN REPEATED THIS). THEY ARE ALSO TAKING THE LINE THAT DIFFERENCES ARE SMALL AND SO
SHOULD BE EASY TO SOLVE: A USEFUL FOUNDATION FOR TRANSFERRING THE BLAME IF FOR ANY REASON, THE TALKS DO NOT SUCCEED.
WILSON
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