TNAG-2031-FCO40-2894-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 48

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CONFIDENTIAL

176522

MDHIAN 1723

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- HE COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE THE OUTCOME OF THE SHORT LISTING OF

COMPANIES FOR THE FIRST AIRPORT CONSULTANCY CONTRACT.

THAT HE AND HIS DTI COLLEAGUES WERE CONCERNED AT THE ABSENCE OF

ANY WHOLLY BRITISH CONTENDER, ESPECIALLY SINCE BAA MADE SUCH A STRONG PITCH AND THE SUCCESSFUL SHORT LIST INCLUDED AEROPORTS DE PARIS, JAPAN AIRPORTS CONSULTANTS LTD, AND NETHERLANDS AIRPORTS CONSULTANTS BV.

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- AT THE END OF THE DAY DETAILED STUDY MIGHT POINT TO ONE SUCCESSFUL CONTENDER WHO MIGHT WELL NOT BE BRITISH, BUT AT THIS PRELIMINARY STAGE OF SHORT LISTING IT IS VERY HARD INDEED TO SEE

WHY FIVE AMERICAN AND NO WHOLLY BRITISH FIRMS OR GROUPS WERE

LISTED.

THAT WE HOPE THAT BRITISH FIRMS WILL GET A BETTER CHANCE FOR SUBSEQUENT STAGES (A DECISION IS EXPECTED WITHIN DAYS ON CHOICE OF CONSULTANTS FOR THE RAILWAY EXTENSION TO THE NEW AIRPORT: THERE ARE

SEVERAL BRITISH CONTESTANTS).

THAT IF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CANNOT SEE ITS WAY TO TAKING

INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITAIN IN THE AWARDING OF THESE CONTRACTS, THEN IT WILL SURELY MAKE HBMGS TASK HARDER IN DEALING E.G. WITH OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE TO THE PASSPORT PACKAGE. OPPONENTS WILL SURELY BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CARES SO LITTLE OF UK INTERESTS THEN WHY SHOULD SPECIAL

EFFORTS BE MADE IN THE UK FOR HONG KONG.

NONE OF WHICH IS TO SAY THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT SEEK THE BEST DEALS POSSIBLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. BUT A

TOUCH OF AWARENESS OF THE BRITISH INTEREST WOULD NOT COME AMISS.

HEAP

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CONFIDENTIAL