39-JUL-1993 17:40
BRITISH TRADE COMM
Reference
P.04
STC
UK MET OFFICE
Professor Kenneth Young, Dean of Science at the Chinese University, telephoned this morning to follow-up on the fax he sent yesterday regarding the Met Office's bid for the Chek Lap Kok contract. He has an interest in the success of the
bid.
Professor Young thinks that the technical assessment of the bids is now in its final stages and that a short list of two ie the Met Office and their US equivalent, has been produced. The Met Office bid is believed to be considerably lower in price but there is seemingly very little to choose between
The Americans have been the two bids on technical content. lobbying hard and at senior levels in HK (it is possible that Casper Weinberger. did some work on this when he was in Hong Kong earlier this year).
The Director of the Hong Kong Royal Observatory, Patrick Sham, is a key player. The technical assessment of the bids is being conducted by his staff. Stephen Wong of Civil Aviation Department (CAD) also has a say in this matter as the end user so presumably Peter Lok, the Director of CAD, will have some involvement before the matter is put to the Central Tender Board. The Met Office have been called out to Hong Kong to make a further presentation between 3 and 11 August. It is understood that the Americans are also being called in for a second presentation. The Royal Observatory aim to take a decision on the matter by mid-August when they will put their recommendation to the Central Tender Board. The Central Tender Board is expected to select the contractor by early September.
I said we would call on Patrick Sham and Peter Lok to let them know we are aware of the Met Office's interest, and to offer assistance if any is needed in their dealings with the Met Office. I told Professor Young it would not be in order to approach Central Tender Board members but we would try to ensure that the Policy Secretaries were aware of the Met Office's interest in winning this contract. The Royal Observatory staff in Hong Kong are trained by the Met Office at Bracknell. The links with the Met Office are therefore very strong. But this could have a disadvantageous effect in that the Royal Observatory might try to show their impartiality and select the Americans if indeed the two bids are neck and neck.
eck..
Professor Young will be going on leave on 6 August.
Robert
Woo, a colleague at the Chinese University (603 6031) will stand in for him.
I would be happy to call on Mr Sham (who I have not met) or Mr Lok (who I know well). If you have an opportunity over the next week or so perhaps you would mention the Met Office's bid to FS, SES and STI?
Ми thu katten
J'Smith-Laittan
28 July 1993
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