CONFIDENTIAL
075347
MDHIAN 2259
FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT THAT THERE WAS CONFIDENCE THAT THE LFC WOULD BE COMPLETED ON TIME, AND THAT THERE WAS LITTLE EXPECTATION AMONGST THOSE CLOSELY INVOLVED THAT THE KOREANS WOULD WIN. BUT CONVERSELY A FAIR NUMBER OF THOSE ON LEGCO, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR INTEREST IN COMMERCIAL MATTERS AND WOULD START FROM THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CHEAPEST BID SHOULD WIN: AND IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO SPELL OUT CAREFULLY WHY IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO SPEND MORE THAN THE MINIMUM TO HAVE REAL CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE.
8.
WE MENTIONED TO BOTH BARROW AND ALLEN THAT WE EXPECTED TO BE IN HONG KONG SHORTLY, AND BOTH INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE US. BOTH ARE THEREFORE LIKELY TO BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE BOTH. ALLEN MENTIONED THAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE MUCH TIME, BUT PERHAPS WE COULD SEE HIM BRIEFLY AND SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH OTHER KEY PEOPLE AT THE PAA I DARE SAY THEY HAVE A STANDARD PRESENTATION FOR VISITORS AND THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT BASIS FOR DISCUSSION. BUT AS IN OTHER AREAS, WE ARE GLAD TO BE GUIDED BY YOU.
9.
SUMMARY.
THESE WERE USEFUL MEETINGS. WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THREE WILL HAVE FELT THAT THEY MET A SUITABLE RESPONSE HERE. IN GENERAL THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE OVERALL PROJECT IS MAKING SOLID PROGRESS ON ALL FRONTS. IN PARTICULAR WE WELCOME THE EVIDENCE THAT HONG KONG OPINION IS CLEARLY RECEPTIVE TO THE LINE, WHICH WE AGREE WE MUST PROMOTE, THAT THE TRACK RECORD OF THE KOREAN CONSORTIUM IS QUITE INADEQUATE TO DELIVER THE NECESSARY DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE FOR THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING CONTRACT.
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CONFIDENTIAL