CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE DTI
TELNO OTTER 256
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
HKC 182/2
14 NOV 1990
SK
OF 120842Z NOVEMBER 90
J
la
а
229
060125
MDHIAN 8821 `
FOR ROGERS, PEP I FROM HEAP
YRTELNO OTTER 298: HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT
1. THANK YOU FOR THE USEFUL SUMMARY OF EVENTS IN OUR TUR.
2. MY ONLY COMMENTS ARE ON YOUR PARA 6. IT IS NOT ACCURATE TO SAY
THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE CHANGED THEIR POSITION ON THE AIRPORT PLATFORM (FIRST SENTENCE OF YOUR PARA 6). PRESUMABLY AJC
ARE REFERRING TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON RECEIVING A PRE-EMPTIVE BID. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD DOUBTLESS CLAIM
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CONSTANT IN ALWAYS SAYING THAT THE BIDDING FOR ALL PARTS OF THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE BASIS OF OPEN COMPETITION. THEY HAVE NEVER SAID, EVEN NOW, THAT A PRE- EMPTIVE BID WOULD BE TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS MADE CLEAR THEIR DISLIKE OF SUCH AN APPROACH, SO IT WAS ALWAYS A LONG SHOT AND I DOUBT THAT THE LATEST MOVES HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING.
·
3 I AM SURE TOO THAT IT WOULD BE A WRONG MOVE TO SCALE DOWN SIR
G MANZIE'S INVOLVEMENT AND TO WITHDRAW ADAMS FROM HERE. THIS IS A
VERY FAST BREAKING PROJECT. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE KEENNESS OF BRITISH FIRMS TO BECOME INVOLVED IS CONSTANTLY KNOWN TO THE TOP MEMBERS OF THE HKG, BUT WE CANNOT GIVE IT QUITE THE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION OPEN TO SIR G MANZIE. CLEARLY ALSO TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AND TO KEEP IN WITH ALL THE MAIN PLAYERS, SURELY REQUIRES SOMEBODY ON THE GROUND HERE. ADAMS I THINK IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE. HE HAS THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND HE ALSO HAS THE DIPLOMATIC SKILLS THAT GIVE HIM VERY GOOD CONTACTS. IT IS NOW A MATTER OF WEEKS AND MONTHS BEFORE THE MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT BEGINS TO MOVE. I BELIEVE AJC SHOULD KEEP THEIR PRESENT STRUCTURE TOGETHER UNTIL THEN AND PROBABLY BEYOND. NOT ONLY ARE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SOMEWHAT FICKLE AND OPEN TO PERSUASION ON WHO THEY PRE-QUALIFY, BUT THEY ALSO ARE UNLIKELY TO GIVE BRITISH COMPANIES ANY BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, AS WE HAVE JUST SEEN IN THEIR FAILURE TO PRE-QUALIFY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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