49
SECRET
SECRET
HKE 182/4
RECEIVED IN RECISTRY
1 1 JUN 1991
FM HONG KONG
.1
TO DESKBY 05120OZ FCO
TELNO 1800
OF 05100OZ JUNE 91
116476
MDHIAN 9762
TOP COPY Q DIST.?/
(AMENDED COPY DTG AND DESKBY TIME?
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS REPORTING
1.
THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST (SCMP) TODAY (5 JUNE) CARRIES A FRONT PAGE STORY BY FANNY WONG ENTITLED ''GOVERNOR SET FOR KEY AIRPORT TALKS IN UK'' A COPY IS BEING FAXED TO PAUL HKD AND ΤΟ PEKING.
*
2. THE STORY STATES THAT I AM EXPECTED TO JOIN HMG'S FINAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE IMPASSE OVER HONG KONG'S NEW AIRPORT WHEN I VISIT LONDON ON ABOUT 20 JUNE. IN A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO SALVAGE THE CONTROVERSIAL AIRPORT PLAN, ROBIN MCLAREN IS TO MAKE AN APPRAISAL OF THE SITUATION IN PEKING AFTER HE TAKES UP HIS POST. LOBBYING TO SAVE THE AIRPORT PLAN IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE UNDERWAY WITH SIR ADRIAN SWIRE CURRENTLY VISITING PEKING. ANY MESSAGE HE RECEIVED FROM CHINESE LEADERS IS EXPECTED TO BE CONVEYED TO WHITEHALL AFTER HE RETURNS TO THE U.K. THIS, TOGETHER WITH ASSESSMENTS BY ME AND ROBIN MCLAREN, WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR HMG TO FINALISE ITS POSITION ON THE CRISIS, WHICH COMES TO A HEAD THIS MONTH WITH THE TENDERING FOR THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT THE END OF JUNE.
3. THE STORY CONTINUES THAT IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHETHER I WOULD MEET THE PRIME MINISTER, ALTHOUGH IT WAS THOUGHT LIKELY. MR. MAJOR HAD ALREADY TAKEN A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE AIRPORT DISPUTE. IN A BID TO BREAK THE ICE, HE HAD PREPARED A PERSONAL LETTER TO BE DELIVERED TO LI PENG THROUGH ROBIN MCLAREN. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS LETTER TAKES A SOFT APPROACH, WITH NO FIRM STATEMENT THAT THE AIRPORT PROJECT WOULD DEFINITELY RE SHELVED IF THE TWO SIDES FAILED TO FIND A SOLUTION. INSTEAD, IT GAVE ONLY VAGUE INDICATIONS THAT IF THE DISPUTE WAS DRAWN OUT, BRITAIN WOULD HAVE LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO PREPARE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF SHELVING THE PLAN. THE TONE OF THE LETTER WAS SAID TO BE GLOOMY. ACCORDING TO THE STRONG, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT EXCO HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE CONTEN OF THE LETTER DURING THE COUNCIL'S WEEKLY MEETING YESTERDAY: THEIR RESPONSE TO THE LETTER AND THE LATEST BRITISH POSITION WAS CONVEYED TO MR. MCLAREN, WHO ATTENDED THE
PAGE 1 SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.