CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 377
OF 230855Z DECEMBER 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE DTI
CONFIDENTIAL
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MDHIAN 7330
HKB 182
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Q DIST?
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD.
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR HALL, HEAD OF PEP, DTI (NO OTHER DISTRIBUTION WITHOUT THEIR APPROVAL).
HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT: THE MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT.
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IN MEETINGS WITH SIR DAVID FORD AND WITH THE GOVERNOR ON 19 AND 20 DECEMBER I PROBED ON THE BIDS RECEIVED FOR THIS CONTRACT. THEY GAVE ME A FEW INDICATORS BUT THEY ASKED ME NOT TO REPORT THESE SINCE THEY SAID THEY WOULD THEMSELVES REPORT TO THE FCO ONCE THEY HAD MORE ADEQUATELY ASSESSED THE BIDS. HENCE THE PERSONAL CAVEAT TO THIS TELEGRAM.
2. I WAS LED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRAFALGAR HOUSE/COSTAIN/MITSUI BID IS COMPETITIVE, THAT THE KOREAN BID (PREDICTABLY) WAS THE CHEAPEST, AND THAT SOME OR ALL OF THE CONTENDERS INCLUDING BY IMPLICATION TRAFALGAR HOUSE, COSTAIN/MITSUI, WERE NOT TOO FAR OFF AND WERE REASONABLY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, AND WERE CLOSE TO GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES FOR THE COST OF THE JOB. BOTH SOURCES EMPHASIZED THAT THEY HAD NOT HAD TIME TO
LOOK AT THE SMALL PRINT WHICH MIGHT QUALIFY THE FIGURES IN
VARYING DEGREES SO THEY SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS FINAL INDICATORS.
FIRST SUGGESTIONS ARE THAT ALL THE BIDS ARE QUALIFIED.
3. I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
INDEED THAT WORD DOES NOT GET BACK THAT I HAVE PASSED THIS
INFORMATION ON.
HEAP
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CONFIDENTIAL