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170312
MDLIAN 0647
GOVERNMENT SIDE WERE CLEARLY SURPRISED, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE WORRIED, TO HEAR SUCH AN EXPERIENCED GROUP TELLING THEM THAT THE BRIDGE WOULD TAKE 5 YEARS TO CONSTRUCT AND A YEAR TO PLAN ONCE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND THAT THE EARTH WORKS WOULD TAKE 4 YEARS BEFORE ANY AIRPORT BUILDING COULD BE BEGUN.
SIR GORDON MANZIE ALSO PLAYED A PROMINENT PART AND WAS WELL RECEIVED ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SIDE.
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4. A FEATURE OF THE VISIT WAS THE PROMINENT ROLE PLAYED BY JARDINES. DURING THE PREVIOUS VISIT IN NOVEMBER THEY HAD HARDLY FEATURED ALTHOUGH THEY DID TAKE A BACK SEAT AT THE PRESENTATION. DURING THIS VISIT EVERYTHING WAS ORGANISED AND RUN BY THEM INCLUDING THE HOSPITALITY. THIS CAUSED SOME MINOR FRICTION WITH COSTAINS AND A SUBSEQUENT SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBERS, ALTHOUGH NOT THE PROMINENCE, OF THE JARDINES PEOPLE PRESENT AT EACH EVENT.
5. DURING THEIR TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS THE GROUP MADE HEAVY PLAY OF THEIR SUPPORT FROM THE BRITISH AND JAPANESE GOVERNMENTS. THEY WILL NEED WATCHING ON THIS SINCE THEY WERE GOING A LITTLE FAR, PARTICULARLY IN RESPECT OF ECGD'S COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT. I HAD TO INTERVENE TO SAY THAT WHEREAS ECGD WERE SYMPATHETIC IN PRINCIPLE, NO COMMITMENTS HAD YET BEEN GIVEN BY THEM. MRS CHAN MENTIONED TO ME AFTER THE SATURDAY PRESENTATION THAT SHE HAD BEEN SURPRISED AT THEIR CLAIMS FOR FULL ECGD BACKING SINCE SHE AND I KNEW, EVEN IF THE TEAM DID NOT, THAT THERE WAS DIFFICULT CORRESPONDENCE GOING ON BETWEEN WHITEHALL DEPARTMENTS ABOUT ECGD'S COVERAGE OF MAJOR PROJECTS WHICH EXTENDED BEYOND 1997. (THIS REFERENCE WAS TO CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ECGD, FCO, THE TREASURY, AND BANK OF ENGLAND, THE LAST ITEM OF WHICH WE HAVE SEEN IS ROGER CARRICK'S LETTER TO PETER MOUNTFIELD OF 16 FEBRUARY). HAMISH MACLEOD MENTIONED AT ANOTHER POINT THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED NOT TO HAVE HAD DIRECT CONTACT YET WITH ECGD SINCE OTHER COUNTRIES AGENCIES HAD DISCUSSED THE PROJECT WITH THEM. I SAID THAT SEDMAN EXPECTED TO BE HERE SHORTLY (HIS LETTER TO ME OF 15 JANUARY).
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THE BRITISH/JAPANESE GROUP FOR THEIR PART WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED AT HOW LITTLE IDEA THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SIDE SEEMED TO HAVE OF THE LIKELY CONSTRUCTION TIMES REQUIRED, OR COSTS, OR MEANS OF FINANCE. THE GOVERNMENT SIDE ALSO INSISTED MORE THAN ONCE THAT THEY HAD HAD MORE THAN 200 FIRM EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST BY COMPANIES WHO WISHED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE FIXED LINK CROSSINGS. THE GROUP WERE DISMISSIVE OF THIS, SAYING THERE WERE
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