You need to read things with a global mind set and remove the blinkers. China major cities does not stop at the airports at PEK, PVG, HKG. When I fly to China from KUL, I will normally go direct to HGH, SZX, CAN, XMN, WUH depending on where I am going. It is quite obvious that the LHR guy is talking about these major cities. I also point out to you that his competitors are already flying to a lot of these cities. So why shouldn't he use these facts to get R3 approved, I would hope that if you were in his position you would use the same arguments.
MAN needs to forget about battles with LHR, BHX, LPL etc. It is doing well, except where single engined planes are concerned
. The terminal situation concerns me, you hit max capacity when you have to reduce capacity due to building work!!!!