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TO IMMEDIATE FCO
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OF 2808OOZ SEPTEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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CALL BY SIR EDWARD HEATH ON PREMIER LI PENG: 26 SEPTEMBER:
HONG KONG ISSUES
SUMMARY
1. EXCHANGE COVERING THE AIRPORT CAN OBSCURE REFERENCE TO PENSIONS, OTHERWISE NOTHING NEW) AND THE GOVENROR'S FORTHCOMING VISIT TO CHINA. SOME NERVOUSNESS ON LI'S PART ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S INTENTIONS FOR (1995) ELECTIONS.
DETAIL
2.
I WAS PRESENT WHEN SIR E HEATH CALLED ON LI PENG FOR AN HOUR ON 26 SEPTEMBER. SIR E HEATH RAISED HONG KONG BY RECALLING THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED THE NEW AIRPORT WITH LI WHEN THEY HAD LAST MET. UNFORTUNATELY IT ALL SEEMED TO BE TAKING FAR LONGER THAN THE NEW BRIDGES IN SHANGHAI (AN EARLIER SUBJECT OF CONVERSATION).
3.
LI SAID THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY DID NOT LIE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, POINTING OUT (WITH DETAILS) THAT THEY HAD BUILT A MODERN AIRPORT IN SHENZHEN WHICH COULD TAKE 747S IN ONLY THREE YEARS. WHEN HE HAD MET THE PRIME MINISTER IN RIO MR MAJOR HAD ASKED HIM TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE OVER FINANCES QUICKLY. IT SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO DO THIS SO LONG AS BOTH SIDES RESPECTED THE MOU
WHICH HE AND THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SIGNED.
4.
SIR E HEATH SAID THAT FROM THE EMPHASIS LI HAD PLACED ON THE SHENZHEN AIRPORT IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE CHINESE BELIEVED A NEW ONE IN HONG KONG TO BE UNNECESSARY. LI RESPONDED WITH AN EMPHATIC NO: HONG KONG WAS HONG KONG AND THE MAINLAND WAS THE MAINLAND. SIR E HEATH SAID HE WAS GLAD TO HEAR THIS. COULD HE TELL THE GOVERNOR TO GO AHEAD WITH BUILDING THE AIRPORT ? LI SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE COSTS WERE RISING FASTER THAN INFLATION. SIR E HEATH REPLIED THAT IF THAT WAS THE CASE THE QUICKER THE WORK STARTED THE BETTER.
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