to join their consortium, to work on the Chek Lap Kok project "as well as other similar projects". This information was not received until after a selection team had reduced the seven candidates to a short-list of three. The German consortium was not among the three short-listed, and had been so advised. Even if the information that the CAAC proposed to join them had been known beforehand, because of the unsatisfactory nature of their proposal it would have been difficult to include the consortium in the short-list.
10
Although it is doubtful that the CAAC would be able to contribute very much to the actual airport master plan project, there are clear political and practical advantages in their being associated with it. It is proposed that the DCA should write to the Director General of the CAAC explaining why the consortium in which CAAC had an interest had not been chosen and nevertheless seeking a discussion with the CAAC on the technical and practical aspects of planning for the replacement airport at Chek Lap Kok (paragraphs 4 and 6(c) above).
Conclusions
11
The responses from both the British Embassy in Peking (paragraphs 3-4 above) and the FCO (paragraphs 5-7 above) provide no grounds for changing the general conclusions reached in paragraphs 10-12 of memorandum XCC(80) 101 (annexed) as modified to take into account the views of Members when they considered the memorandum on 19th August. Nor do the more recent contacts with Chinese officials (paragraphs 8-10 above). It is therefore proposed:
(a) that the Government should continue with the planning for the construction of Hong Kong's replacement international airport at Chek Lap Kok;
(b) that the Government should continue to discourage
speculation that Shenzhen or any other site in China might be considered as an alternative to Chek Lap Kok;
(c) that the Government should continue to make it clear to the Chinese authorities in response to any further tentative enquiries that:
(i)
(ii)
it is proceeding with the further studies, investigations and planning in respect of making adequate preparations to provide the air transport facilities needed to maintain Hong Kong's
prosperity; and
the site at Chek Lap Kok is a good one;
SECRET