From P. W. Heap CMG British Senior Trade Commissioner
D H Gillmore, CMG
DUSS
F CO
London
HKC
182/2
CRIVER
27
BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION
HONG KONG.
15 MAY 1990
Mr fave (HKD)
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ACER GROUP
126
Thank you for your letter of 19 March about the visit of Eric Bridgen, Managing Director of Acer Group. Bridgen duly came to see me on 29 March together with John Webb, Head of their company here. We know his local company well. They are large and active here, and indeed I have known Freeman Fox fairly well in other places around the world. Acer, founded after Taylor's merger with Freeman Fox, is a fairly recent creation.
Bridgen's main concern was that we should recognise the high British content which they provide as support for the US company, Austin, who are one of the contestants for the Master Plan Consultancy for the massive £10 billion Airport Project in Hong Kong.
is a major consultancy contract which will be decided in the next week or two. We have had heavy representation from another US firm, Bechtel, who insist that they will give most of the work to Bechtel UK if they are successful and who have another British firm, Halcrow, in support. Thus both of these contenders have substantial British elements in support of a US bid. Thus our role has to be some what neutral between them. Never-the-less it was
to have Eric Bridgen's confirmation of the effort they were making in pursuing the contract.
I am inclined to agree with your assessment. He was amiable enough, but as Managing Directors of major companies go he was not perhaps among the most impressive we have seen seem to see most of them sooner rather than later.
and we Since then