CONFIDENTIAL
016112
MDHIAN 6848
RISK OF LEAKAGE OF THE BIDDING FIGURES. IF COSTAIN, WHO HE THOUGHT WERE VERY COMPETITIVE IN THIS FIELD, HAD IDEAS ON HOW A PRE-EMPTIVE BID COULD BE MADE TO APPEAR PROPERLY COMPETITIVE THEN THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED TO HEAR THEM.
9. IN CONCLUDING I SAID THAT I ASSUMED FROM WHAT HE SAID THAT A PRE-EMPTIVE BID FROM THE AJC GROUP STOOD NO CHANCE OF BEING CONSIDERED AT THIS STAGE: THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME SLIGHT POSSIBILITY OF SUCH AN APPROACH EARLY NEXT YEAR BEING CONSIDERED BUT EVEN THAT SEEMED UNLIKELY. HE AGREED. I SAID THAT IT ALSO SEEMED CLEAR THAT HKG WERE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO CHINA'S REACTION TO PROSPECTS OF A BRITISH-LED PRE-EMPTIVE BID. WE FOR OUR PART WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT THESE SHOULD NOT EXTEND TO THE AWARDING OF CONTRACTS. HE SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE.
10. I SUGGEST THIS CONVERSATION UNDERLINES THE UNWILLINGNESS OF THE HKG TO RECEIVE A PRE-EMPTIVE BID AT THIS STAGE, PARTICULARLY FROM A BRITISH GROUP. THERE THUS SEEMS LITTLE POINT IN PROCEEDING WITH IT. THE ADDITIONAL CONCERN OVER CHINESE REACTIONS TO BRITISH INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT STILL I SUGGEST HAS SOME OMINOUS OVERTONES.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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