TNAG-2016-FCO40-2871-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1990 — Page 229

7

ication

CONFIDENTIAL

Cavest

Precedence

IMMEDIATE

-

2.

CLEARLY THE PURPOSE OF THE CONVERSATION WITH

KUMAGAI IS TO PICK UP HIS ASSURANCES TO MR RIDLEY (YOUR

OTTER 357), WHEN HE SAID QUOTE THAT MITSUI WERE MAKING -

PROGRESS IN SECURING JAPANESE COMPANIES AND HAD

THAT.

NIPPON STEEL ON BOARD CLOSE GUCTE. YOU MIGHT SAY THAT

- WE WERE PLEASED TO HEAR HIS ENCOURAGEMENT AT THAT STAGE,

BUT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE

=

--

(COMMENT:

: APPARENT LACK OF PROGRESS IN SECURING FIRM

COMMITMENT FROM THE OTHER KEY JAPANESE PLAYERS.

OUR-UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NIPPON STEEL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS NOI REPEAT-NOT ON BOARD). THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT-

- long term BELIEVES THIS IS A KEY PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE DE HONG

KONG, AND THAT IT REPRESENTS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR

ANGLO/JAPANESE COOPERATION. HMG IS THEREFORE GIVING

-

THE ANGLO/JAPANESE. CONSORTIUM ITS FULL SUPPORT.

it will be very Acsirable to pub

เท

we H

IS MADE TO THE GROUP

5004 STRONG PRE-EMPTIVE BID HS SESIRABLE SHORTLY (kis arrect

eain and

believe that IS BESONA

: SINCE A

(પ

:

MPORTINT THAT FIRM COMMITMENTS IS HASE TO

are essenha sunu

THE CONSORTIUM SE, EVEN IF THE HKG DECIDES TO

PROCEED TO A COMPETITION, THE CONSORTIUM WILL HAVE

GREATLY STRENGTHENED ITS CLAIM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF

A PRE-EMPTIVE BID.

3.

::

COMMENT.

S

}

CERTAIN DISTINCTIONS ARE IMPORTANT HERE,

THOUGH WE DO NOT WANT TO ADVERTISE THEM UNNECESSARILY

HMG SUPPORT FOR THE CONSORTIUM IS

CLEAR IN RESPECT OF THE FIXED LINK - ALMOST CERTAINLY

A VERY LARGE BRIDGE. IT IS NOT MEANT TO ENCOMPASS THE

TOTALITY OF THE PROJECT - FOR EXAMPLE THE AIRPORT

ITSELF (WHERE THE UK AIRPORTS GROUP IS IN PURSUIT) OR

THE RAIL LINK (WHERE AGAIN OTHER COMPANIES ARE LINED

UP). THE POSITION IN RESPECT OF SOME MAJOR PARTS

OF THE PROJECT (ES THE AIRPORT PLATFORM, ESSENTIALLY

for distribution orcer see Page

Catchword:

INVOLVING

(Y 43A

(999-818)