CYPHER
CENFO 039
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG DATED
PRIORITY
9TH JUNE
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY
CHRISTIAN NUMBER 005 OF 9 JUNE 1969
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
+
-3JUL 1969
AKK 21 11
FOR CARTER, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FROM MORETON.
KAI TAK EXTENSION.
WHEN IN HONG KONG LORD SHEPHERD REFERRED AT BOTH HIS OPENING AND CLOSING PRESS CONFERENCES TO THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.K. GIVEN THE PRESENT ECONOMIC RESTRICTIONS IN BRITAIN, PRESSURE ON AID FUNDS FROM MORE DESERVING COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG'S BUOYANT REVENUE. WAS RECEIVED WITHOUT ANY STRONG ADVERSE PUBLIC REACTION.
THIS
2. 1 SPOKE TO COWPERTHWAITE AT SOME LENGTH ON LINES OF BRIEF. HE RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF STEERING THE WHOLE CONTRACT
INTO BRITISH HANDS SINCE:-
(A)
(B)
(C)
THE CONTRACT WAS IN SEVERAL PARTS, E.G. APRONS, RUNWAYS, TERMINAL BUILDINGS, AND FREIGHT BUILDINGS, THE FIRST
OF WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT OUT TO TENDER
PUBLIC OPINION WOULD INSIST ON CONTRACTS BEING SUBMITTED
TO PUBLIC TENDER=
IT WOULD CREATE GREAT DIFFICULTIES OVER THE USE OF LOCAL MATERIALS SUCH AS CEMENT AND STEEL REINFORCING BARS.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO EMPHASISED THAT IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE
TO AVOID PUBLIC TENDER.