TNAG-2016-FCO40-2871-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1990 — Page 223

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4. The intention is that the first runway of the airport

should be operational by January 1997.

5.

It is vital that the airport and infrastructure projects are carried out and are commercially viable, where intended. Chinese support is important for confidence here and the Japanese have been helpful in bringing this home to them.

6. British interests in the various projects are considerable and in particular in the Anglo/Japanese consortium which is bidding for a major part of fixed link

(bridge).

7 We feel that pre-emptive bid by the consortium could

succeed but the Japanese side (Mitsui) have been slow to

commit themselves and to bring in other key players (ie.

Nippon Steel). A-gentle probing would be helpful.

TO SE

8. Mr Nakayama may also wish to be reassured of HMG's

OUR WSH commitment to the consortium and to our discussions with HKG

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on their bid While the letting of the contract is of course a matter for NKG, it would be appropriate to say that the consortium has our full backing.

Air Services Agreements (ASAS)

9.

Arrangements for scheduled air services between Hong

Kong and Japan are presently regulated by the UK/Japan Air Services Agreement (ASA). Air services to Hong Kong cannot be covered in this way of course post-1997 and, with Chinese

consent, we are separating all those UK ASAS which provide

for routes to Hong Kong into two sets of arrangements.

that basis we are negotiating a series of Hong Kong ASAS

which will continue in force beyond 1997.

On

10. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs was first

provided with a draft Hong Kong/Japan ASA text in August

1987. Although there are no differences of principle or

substance there have been some legal difficulties and some

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