CONFIDENTIAL
HKA 182/3
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 07013OZ BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 89
OF 061615Z MAY 92
INFO PRIORITY SEOUL, TOKYO
107
112
162746
MDHOAN 3957
TOP COPY Q DIST?
Ja
is
FCO TELNO 87: HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT: MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT
1. OUR CONTINGENCY PRESS MATERIAL IS AS FOLLOWS:
BEGIN UNDERLINING: FOR USE ONLY AFTER HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
ANNOUNCEMENT AT 0500 BST 7 MAY. END UNDERLINING
PRESS LINE
AWARD OF THE MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT, NEW HONG KONG AIRPORT
- WE WELCOME THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE ANGLO-JAPANESE CONSORTIUM
INCLUDING TRAFALGAR HOUSE AND COSTAINS HAVE WON THE CONTRACT TO
BUILD THE TSING-MA BRIDGE FOR THE NEW HONG KONG AIRPORT.
THESE TWO BRITISH COMPANIES HAVE ENORMOUS EXPERIENCE IN
BUILDING LARGE BRIDGES. THEY WON THE PROJECT AGAINST FIERCE
COMPETITION IN A FAIR FIGHT.
- HONG KONG NEEDS THE NEW AIRPORT TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A
DYNAMIC REGIONAL CENTRE. THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS
ARE COMMITTED TO COOPERATING SO THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AIRPORT CAN GO AHEAD WITH ALL SPEED. WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT
BRITISH INDUSTRY WILL BE CLOSELY INVOLVED. (DEFENSIVE)
Q1. HAS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INFLUENCED IN ANY WAY THE AWARD
OF THIS CONTRACT TO THE AJC?
A1. NO. THIS WAS A DECISION BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT PLAYED NO PART IN THE AWARD OF THIS CONTRACT.
WE WERE NOT CONSULTED NOR INVOLVED.
Q2. DID THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO THE UK, GIVE YOU ADVANCE NOTICE?
A2. NO. THE GOVERNOR DISCUSSED PROGRESS OF THE NEW AIRPORT IN
GENERAL BUT NOT SPECIFIC CONTRACTS.
Q3. DID YOU GET ANY ADVANCE NOTICE?
A3. THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES OF THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE WERE
BRIEFED TOGETHER BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE
ANNOUNCEMENT.
Q4.
WHY WAS THE CONTRACT AWARDED TO THE AJC WHEN THEIR BID WAS
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
c) 2