7
ication
CONFIDENTIAL
Cavest
Precedence
IMMEDIATE
-
2.
CLEARLY THE PURPOSE OF THE CONVERSATION WITH
KUMAGAI IS TO PICK UP HIS ASSURANCES TO MR RIDLEY (YOUR
OTTER 357), WHEN HE SAID QUOTE THAT MITSUI WERE MAKING -
PROGRESS IN SECURING JAPANESE COMPANIES AND HAD
THAT.
NIPPON STEEL ON BOARD CLOSE GUCTE. YOU MIGHT SAY THAT
- WE WERE PLEASED TO HEAR HIS ENCOURAGEMENT AT THAT STAGE,
BUT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
=
--
(COMMENT:
: APPARENT LACK OF PROGRESS IN SECURING FIRM
COMMITMENT FROM THE OTHER KEY JAPANESE PLAYERS.
OUR-UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NIPPON STEEL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOI REPEAT-NOT ON BOARD). THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT-
- long term BELIEVES THIS IS A KEY PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE DE HONG
KONG, AND THAT IT REPRESENTS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR
ANGLO/JAPANESE COOPERATION. HMG IS THEREFORE GIVING
-
THE ANGLO/JAPANESE. CONSORTIUM ITS FULL SUPPORT.
it will be very Acsirable to pub
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we H
IS MADE TO THE GROUP
5004 STRONG PRE-EMPTIVE BID HS SESIRABLE SHORTLY (kis arrect
eain and
believe that IS BESONA
: SINCE A
(પ
:
MPORTINT THAT FIRM COMMITMENTS IS HASE TO
are essenha sunu
THE CONSORTIUM SE, EVEN IF THE HKG DECIDES TO
PROCEED TO A COMPETITION, THE CONSORTIUM WILL HAVE
GREATLY STRENGTHENED ITS CLAIM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
A PRE-EMPTIVE BID.
3.
::
COMMENT.
S
}
CERTAIN DISTINCTIONS ARE IMPORTANT HERE,
THOUGH WE DO NOT WANT TO ADVERTISE THEM UNNECESSARILY
HMG SUPPORT FOR THE CONSORTIUM IS
CLEAR IN RESPECT OF THE FIXED LINK - ALMOST CERTAINLY
A VERY LARGE BRIDGE. IT IS NOT MEANT TO ENCOMPASS THE
TOTALITY OF THE PROJECT - FOR EXAMPLE THE AIRPORT
ITSELF (WHERE THE UK AIRPORTS GROUP IS IN PURSUIT) OR
THE RAIL LINK (WHERE AGAIN OTHER COMPANIES ARE LINED
UP). THE POSITION IN RESPECT OF SOME MAJOR PARTS
OF THE PROJECT (ES THE AIRPORT PLATFORM, ESSENTIALLY
for distribution orcer see Page
Catchword:
INVOLVING
(Y 43A
(999-818)