CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL
20 December 1991
N J Cox Esq
Hong Kong Department
FCO
I pe plw e
faxed
Office of the
186
British Senior Representative
advance copy 1
MiVAM
87:
14/1
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
Dear Nigel,
AIRPORT PROJECT: LANTAU FIXED CROSSING
Thank you for your telno 107 about the Lantau Fixed
Crossing. Although you will by now have seen Hong Kong telnos 3887 and 3888, I doubt whether these will have provided you with the information you require.
I have spoken to various people in the Hong Kong Government about the tenders. The experts are examining the bulky tender documents and have come to no firm conclusions yet. But, according to the Director of NAPCO, it does not seem that the prices in the tenders differ greatly from what had been expected. They should not create any great problem with the Chinese. Of much greater concern, however, is the fact that all the tenderers are seeking guarantees that the HKSAR government will honour the contracts after 1997. It seems that the guarantees required are quite explicit and would involve "comfort" of a firm contractual nature. This opens up the whole tricky question of the legal successor to the HKG and who acts in loco parentis for the unborn Hong Kong SAR.
The Hong Kong Government are considering the way forward and will no doubt be telegraphing in due course. In the meantime please treat this letter as personal.
Yours ever,
Alan
A R Paul
CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL