SECRET
72
030415 MDHIAN 3712
HKB 182 14
RECEIVED IN
05 JUL 1991
TOP COPY Q DIST?
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO FLASH FCO
TELNO 2110
OF 021718Z JULY 91
INFO DESKBY 02223OZ PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR.
UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.
PADS SECRET.
HONG KONG AIRPORT: STATEMENT BY HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE.
1 ATV HAVE CARRIED THE FOLLOWING REPORT THIS EVENING:
''A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE CONFIRMED TODAY THAT HIGH LEVEL TALKS ARE CONTINUING BETWEEN CHINESE OFFICIALS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS ADVISER TO THE PRIME MINISTER SIR PERCY CRADOCK. THE LONDON DECISION TO INITIATE THE MEETING HAD SHOWN BRITISH SINCERITY OVER THE PROJECT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED THAT CHEK LAP KOK AIRPORT MUST GET UNDER WAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD MEAN A MATTER OF MONTHS RATHER THAN YEARS. BESIDES SMOOTHING THE WAY FOR THE HKD120 BILLION PROJECT SIR PERCY IS ALSO BELIEVED TO HAVE CLEARED MISUNDERSTANDINGS OVER SOME MAJOR ISSUES STRADDLING 1997. BEIJING MEANWHILE HAS ASKED THE SHENZHEN AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO LOOK INTO WAYS OF RELIEVING CONGESTION AT KAI TAK IN THE SHORT TERM''.
2. GIS WILL USE THE FOLLOWING LINE IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES:
''WE CONFIRM THAT AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN LONDON, DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS HAVE BEEN CONTINUING WITH THE AIM OF TRYING TO ACHIEVE PRACTICAL AND WORKABLE ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN GET ON WITH THE AIRPORT PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE''
3. THIS CHINESE STATEMENT PUTS US IN AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT POSITION. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LEGCO ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 3 JULY ON THE AIRPORT. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT AROUND 3 P.M. LOCAL
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