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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1955
OF 190452Z JUNE 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS REPORTS
17 JUNE.
62
164210
MDHIAN 1747
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1. NCNA VICE DIRECTOR ZHANG JUNSHENG WAS WIDELY QUOTED IN THE PRESS ON 17 JUNE AS SAYING THAT THE CHINESE WERE NOT/NOT
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THE AIRPORT. CHEK LAP KOK WOULD NOW BE WELL UNDERWAY IF A QUOTE CORRECT ATTITUDE UNQUOTE HAD BEEN ADOPTED BY THE BRITISH. DISCUSSIONS, NEGOTIATIONS AND COMPROMISES WERE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE IN ORDER FOR SUPPORT TO BE GIVEN TO SUCH A MAMMOTH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
2. THE MAIN REASON THAT AGREEMENT HAD NOT/NOT BEEN REACHED WAS
THAT THE BRITISH WERE UNABLE TO MAKE UP THEIR MIND ON TWO ISSUES:
FISCAL RESERVES TO BE LEFT TO THE SARG AND DISCUSSION WITH CHINA ON MAJOR AFFAIRS STRADDLING 1997. IF THE TWO PRINCIPLES WERE NOT/NOT RESOLVED, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR CHINA TO SUPPORT OR MADE ANY ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE CHEK LAP KOK PROJECT. ZHANG
DENIED THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE WERE ENGAGED IN A ROW OVER CHINA HAVING A SAY IN HONG KONG AFFAIRS. ACCORDING TO THE JD, CHINA HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS HONG KONG ON ASSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
COMMENT
3. THIS IS NOT/NOT NEW, BUT IT REPRESENTS A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO PIN THE BLAME FIRMLY ON HMG/HKG.
WILSON
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