RESTRICTED
A
142675
MDHIAN 0780
3
SHELVING OR POSTPONING THE PROJECT.
5. THERE WERE TWO OBSTACLES TO A SOLUTION AT THE AIRPORT TALKS. FIRSTLY, THE BRITISH SIDE HAD LACKED SINCERITY AND HAD BACK- PEDALLED. A PROPOSAL HAD BEEN PUT BY THE BRITISH WHICH HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE CHINESE. BUT THE BRITISH SIDE LATER CHANGED THEIR MINDS. SECONDLY, DURING THE TALKS THE CHINESE HAD ALWAYS RESTRICTED THEIR DISCUSSION TO THE NEW AIRPORT. BUT THE BRITISH HAD EXTENDED DISCUSSION TO COVER THE EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF HK. IF THERE WAS NO MUTUAL TRUST, THERE WOULD BE NO BASIS FOR COOPERATION. BOTH SIDES SHOULD BUILD UP MUTUAL
TRUST, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE NO RESULT TO THE AIRPORT TALKS.
5. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER ARTICLES OF NOTE. VICTOR SIT, WRITING IN WAH KIU YAT PO, CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT/NOT INCREASING THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT. IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW MUST BE SECURED (EXCLAM). THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES IN AN EDITORIAL SAID THAT IN VIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITAIN, THE CHINESE SHOULD TRY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THE AIRPORT WITH A CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT. IF THERE WAS A GENERAL ELECTION, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH CHANGES THAT A LABOUR GOVERNMENT MIGHT BRING ABOUT IN HMG'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG. THE CHINESE SHOULD ALSO TRY TO WIN THE TRUST OF HONG KONG PEOPLE. IF CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND HK WERE DISPELLED, A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN WOULD NOT/NOT HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON HONG KONG.
COMMENT
IS
7. THE EDITORIAL IN WEN WEI PO, DRAWING ON LU PING'S REMARKS, AGGRESSIVE IN TONE AND REPRESENTS A RENEWED ATTEMPT TO LAY THE BLAME FOR DELAYS SQUARELY AT THE DOOR OF HMG. THE REMARK THAT THE CHINESE HAD ALWAYS RESTRICTED THEIR DISCUSSIONS TO THE NEW AIRPORT IS STAGGERING. REFERENCES TO THE CHINESE WANTING AN AIRPORT BUILT EARLY ARE PROBABLY JUST FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, BUT MAY ALSO REFLECT GENUINE CONCERN THAT IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED IN SLOW TIME THE SARG WILL BE LEFT WITH A HALF-FINISHED AIRPORT IN 1997.
WILSON
YYYY
2
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