souch Thina Morning Post -
Japan biggest competitor for HK contract
London, Oct. 13.
Britain and Japan will be the main con- tenders for the biggest capital project to be launched in Southeast Asia, according to the latest issue of Export Times, the independent journal of international marketing.
The journal said today as anything Japan can offer, Britain's prestige in Asia with the possible exception will be severely damaged it looks as if it depends on of the rolling stock itself. So if it fails to win the who offers the most attractive Hongkong harbour tunnel credit terms. railway contract.
Receiving, examining and making a decision on the The situation as decision tenders will take about an- day approaches in Hongkong other year. Then six months on whether to go ahead with will have to be allowed for, its £300 million underground the assembly of equipment; railway scheme is that it is and materials. This means virtually certain that the that construction woul colony's Government will give in about 1973-74, Export the go ahead to the plan, prob- Times said. ably round about the end of the year. But reports here say local opinion is that odds are swinging in Japan's favour for the contract.
At stake
The journal said more is at stake than simply the con- tract. Britain's main com- petitor for the work is Japan, which already has taken away many of Britain's markets in the Far East.
For Japan to gain Asia's biggest capital project and in a British colony would set the seal on Japan's vir- tual economic domination of that part of the world, the journal added,
In all terms except one, the British consortium which will be tackling the project can be competitive with Japan. British engineering takes second place to none and Hongkong is aware of this.
In terms of price, in this field Britain should be able to offer a deal as attractive.
14/10/10
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.