TNAG-2141-FCO40-3060-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-1990 — Page 70

7

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE

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 QUOTE. 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 GOVERNMEN

-long term - BELIEVES THIS IS A KEY PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE CE HONG KONS, AND THAT IT REPRESENTS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR ANGLO/JAPANESE GOOPERATION. HMG IS THEREFORE GIVING

-

THE ANGLO/JAPANESE. CONSORTIUM ITS FULL SUPPORT.

believe that it will be very dramable to put in

De =

HADE TO THE GROUP 5004

SENCE A STRONG PRE-EMPTIVE BID FS CRABLE SHORTLY

azreci

zin and

AND COCOT BOAT FIRM COMMITMENTS MADE TO

are essenhu smú

-

THE CONSORTIUM SEE, 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 BIO.

3. COMMENT.

g

CERTAIN DISTINCTIONS ARE IMPORTANT HERE, THOUGH WE DO NOT WANT TO ADVERTISE THEM UNNECESSARILY AT THIS STAGE. -MG 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 (EG THE AIRPORT PLATFORM, ESSENTIALLY

for pretibution orcer see Page

Tatonword

INVOLVING

KY 43A