6.
7.
No! Me Thousui's reaction to
specific
بالفته و
Моржав
6.
This would not necessarily be the end of the matter since he could, and might, modify his recommendation if developments at the CATC meeting, in particular, seemed to justify it. The point about this is that he has circulated a paper to the CATC outlining Hong Kong's problem as a bursting communications centre and seeking views by way of guidance and assistance from the CATC members on how the problem might be tackled, with reference not merely to Hong Kong's own position, but to the general world air traffic problem and specifically to problems of air traffic in this area.
kir Thomson said that he recognised that much more than purely technical issues or even or straight evaluation of traffic projections was involved in determining what should be done with Hong Kong as a communications centre. To develop it in order to cope with the increasing curve of traffic, would almost certainly require expend- iture of astronomical magnitude which could not possibly be recouped before expiry of the lease in 1998. Moreover the justification for it must depend partly on the assess- ment of the likely political future and stability of the area as a whole. Either Hong Kong could become an increasingly important communications centre or it could be run back down to a merely regional airport. All of these factors included within them political assessments which it might be felt should not be entrusted to, or confided in, non-British consultants.
He also felt that an important factor in the decisions would be BOAC's intentions. If Hong Kong were to run- down to regional communications, then it might be that BOAC would not be able to operate so profitably in the area. I thought I detected in this more than a hint of suggestion that because of the possible invisible earnin
ings at stake, this might be a project which would be considered to be worthy of British Government financial support and if this were forthcoming then the tendency would of course be to take a British consultant.
ir Thomson conceded (for the political reasons) it might be decided, if it could be at all contrived, that the consultancy work (i e the preparation of the feasibility) should be done by a British firm or combination of British firms. I suggested that he might discuss this further with officials in the UK when he is back there for the CATC meeting and he said that he would be getting in touch with them.
TWA:mee
3 August 1972
:
(signed) T W ASTON
Senior Trade Commissioner.
P3 Scott Wilson & Kirkpatrick have however since told me that they did not recommend against British equipment on these grounds, but because the Continental equipment was cheaper. They do not seem to rate the technical advisers very highly and thought that the decisions and what to buy or not to buy were as much influenced by Mr Thomson's own views as his technical advice.
3.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.