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Referring to parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question, please note that:

(a) For the past three years up to end of January 1997, there were a total of 29 contracts in respect of which claims in excess of $50 million have been received under each contract. The total amount as claimed by the contractors under these 29 contracts in the past three years is $8.6 billion. The total value for these 29 contracts is $32.2 billion. However, as claims information is confidential under the provisions of the conditions of contract, we cannot disclose individual contract details.

(b)

The reasons put forward by contractors in their claims include, inter alia, the following:

0 disturbance to works progress for which the Contractor is not

responsible;

(ii)

delay in possession of works site;

(iii) limitations imposed by the Employer on the methods of

construction;

(iv) special provisions for third parties such as access to an adjoining

site;

(v)

(vi)

disruption to or delay in works progress arising from problems associated with interfacing with other contracts;

claimed impossibility of works;

(vii) requirements for additional/extra work and related disputes on

rates;

(viii) under-recovery of overheads where works are deleted from the

contract;

(ix) dispute over interpretation of provisions in the contract or method

of measurements;

(x)

prolongation costs where the contractor is not responsible for the contractual delay; and

(xi) design changes to suit site conditions.