UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2381
OF 221044Z SEPTEMBER 92
σ
UNCLASSIFIED
HKA 182/5
050270
MDHIAN 0076
TOP COPY Q DIST?
AIRPORT TALKS: PRESS REPORTS
SUMMARY
IN THE ABSENCE OF A FORMAL CHINESE RESPONSE TO OUR PROPOSALS THE LEFT WING PRESS IS MAINTAINING ITS CRITICAL BARRAGE. CHINESE SOURCES ARE ALSO BEING QUOTED HARPING ON THE SAME THEMES OF COST EFFECTIVENESS AND NOT SPENDING THE SAR'S MONEY.
DETAIL
2. WEN WEI PO (WWP) QUOTES ''CONCERNED PEOPLE'' AS SAYING THAT THE BRITISH PROPOSAL WHICH TRIED TO SPEND THE REVENUE OF THE SAR WOULD BECOME A NEW PROBLEM IN THE AIRPORT TALKS AND THAT THE
PROPOSAL GOES BEYOND THE AIRPORT MOU. THE SOURCE ADDED THAT THE
BRITISH PROPOSAL WAS BASED ON A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CHINESE VIEW, SAYING THAT THE CHINESE HAD ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR IN THE LAND COMMISSION'S MEETING THAT THE LAND SALES SHOULD BE GROUPED UNDER THE ANNUAL 50 HECTARE QUOTA.
3.
TA KUNG PAO (TKP) CARRIED A COMMENTARY SAYING THAT THERE WAS
NOTHING NEW IN THE BRITISH PROPOSAL. IT WOULD NOT/NOT REDUCE ANY COSTS AND WOULD INVOLVE SPENDING THE SAR'S REVENUE IN ADVANCE. THE COMMENTARY ALSO ARGUED THAT THE ADDITIONAL 62 HECTARES OF LAND PUT UP FOR SALE WOULD AFFECT THE FUTURE LAND SUPPLY AND
HENCE THE REVENUE OF THE FUTURE SAR.
4 =
THE EXPRESS QUOTES SOURCES CLOSE TO THE CHINESE AS SAYING THAT THE CHINESE WOULD NOT/NOT COMPROMISE ON MATTERS OF PRINCIPLE IN ORDER TO REACH AN EARLY SETTLEMENT. THE SOURCES CRITICISED THE BRITISH FOR TRYING TO SPEND THE SAR'S MONEY AND TO FILL UP THE HKG'S COFFERS.
5. SCMP ALSO QUOTED A CHINESE SOURCE AS SAYING THAT THE BRITISH HAD OFFERED NO CONCESSIONS IN THE OFFER AND WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE CHINESE FOOT THE BILL NOW IN EXCHANGE FOR THE CALLABLE EQUITY AFTER 1997: AND THAT HKG SHOULD THINK OF DRAWING ON ITS FISCAL RESERVES IN INCREASE ITS CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN THE PROJECT.
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