CONFIDENTIAL
HKA 182/5
Copied to PAOS /CHINEJE.
AM
14
056371
MDHIAN 7965
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2716
OF 171121Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PLEASE PASS TO GOVERNOR, VISITING
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MIPT: AIRPORT PLATFORM CONTRACT: TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE
BEGINS
سلام
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO SEEK FINANCE COMMITTEE'S APPROVAL FOR FUNDS TO ENABLE THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY TO AWARD THE SITE PREPARATION CONTRACT AT CHEK LAP KOK BEFORE THE VALIDITY DATE OF THE HKD9.04BN TENDER FROM AIRPORT PLATFORM CONTRACTORS JOINT VENTURE EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
'WE HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION IN ORDER TO FULFIL OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SINO-BRITISH MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, WHICH MAKES THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE BY JUNE 1997', A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
'OUR FIRST PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THE OVERALL FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE AIRPORT. BUT, PENDING SUCH AGREEMENT, WE ARE TAKING A STEP BY STEP APPROACH.
'THE VALIDITY OF THE TENDER EXPIRES ON NOVEMBER 30 AND ANY POSTPONEMENT OF THE CONTRACT AWARD BEYOND THAT DATE WOULD INCREASE COSTS AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE AIRPORT ON TARGET. IT IS THEREFORE SENSIBLE FOR THE PAA TO ACCEPT THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE TENDER FROM AIRPORT PLATFORM CONTRACTORS JOINT VENTURE WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. THE CONTRACT IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY APRIL 1996 AND IT CREATES NO LIABILITIES FOR THE FURTHER SAR GOVERNMENT,' SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
'WE FIRST LOOKED INTO THIS OPTION IN JULY WHEN WE DECIDED IT WOULD BE MORE PRUDENT TO WAIT AND TRY TO REACH OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE SIDE BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THIS CONTRACT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT THAT TIME WITHOUT CAUSING ANY SLIPPAGE IN THE PROGRAMME. NOW HOWEVER, FOUR MONTHS LATER, WE ARE FACED WITH
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