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CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG TO PRIORITY DTI
TELNO INTRA 23
OF 221055Z JANUARY 92
AND TO PRIORITY ECGD
INFO PRIORITY FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
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MY TELNO INTRA 22: HONG KONG PROJECT: MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT.
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ALL FOUR OF THE CONTENDING GROUPS FOR THE MAIN BRIDGE HAVE STRONG TEAMS IN HONG KONG THIS WEEK TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION CALLED BY THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION ON EACH BID. EACH TEAM HAS BEEN ALLOCATED A DAY TO BE DIVIDED HALF BETWEEN A TECHNICAL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION, AND A FINANCIAL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION. THE TRAFALGAR HOUSE, COSTAIN, MITSUI GROUP WILL PERFORM LAST, ON MONDAY 20 JANUARY.
2.
A GROUP FROM THE BOUYGUES (FRANCE) LED GROUP HAVE BEEN TO SEE ME ON 22 JANUARY. AMONG THEM WAS BANKS, PROJECTS FINANCE MANAGER OF KIER INTERNATIONAL, AND ALLEN, THE LOCAL MIDLAND BANK REPRESENTATIVE. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THESE BRITISH ELEMENTS, WHICH THEY EMPHASISE WILL GIVE THEM ACCESS TO ECGD SUPPORT, AND THEY HOPE FOR SOME SUPPORT FROM THIS OFFICE. THEY EXPLAINED THAT KIER INTERNATIONAL NOW HAD A QUITE SEPARATE OFFICE IN HONG KONG FROM BEAZER ASIA SINCE THE TAKEOVER OF THE LATTER BY A GERMAN GROUP. MY REPEATED QUESTIONS ON THE SIZE OF THE BRITISH ELEMENT IN THE GROUP PRODUCED REPLIES ALONG THE LINES THAT THIS WAS FLEXIBLE AND THAT THE IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR US WAS THE PERCENTAGE OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT SOURCED IN THE UK WHICH WOULD ONLY BE DECIDED AT A LATER STAGE. THEY ALSO STRESSED THAT BEING A MULTI-NATIONAL GROUP REPRESENTING MOST OF THE LEADING OECD COUNTRIES, THEIR SUCCESS WOULD BE GOOD FOR HONG KONG, AND WOULD ENSURE THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL THE LEADING CREDIT AGENCIES INCLUDING ECGD.
3.
IN ADDITION TO KIER AND MIDLAND BANK REPRESENTATIVES, PRESENT ALSO WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS, BANQUE INDOSUEZ AND BOUYGUES.
4.
WE DID NOT EXCHANGE MUCH INFORMATION, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27)