TNAG-2258-FCO40-3254-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-Brit-1991 — Page 113

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE DTI

TELNO OTTER 72

HKC B

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 0 APR 1991

DESK OFFICEK

MOEX

HA

OF 090911Z APRIL 91

INFO PRIORITY FCO

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, TOKYO, ECGD LONDON

18213

Gery Pls

50

063556

MDHIAN 1293

Pa of

to

Cox,

Com Store of

Furness.

Paly

FOR ADAMS, HEAD OF PEP

HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT

1. RICHARD ALLEN, THE RECENTLY APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, WILL BE IN LONDON FROM 16-20 APRIL, STAYING AT THE SAVOY. HE HAS MEETINGS WITH BAA (BRITISH AIRPORT AUTHORITY) AND ITS CHAIRMAN SIR NORMAN PAYNE. HE SAYS HE IS NOT READY TO MEET WITH BRITISH CONTRACTORS IN THE UK, BUT THAT HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYONE WE WISH ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE. HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH ALAN PAUL, HKD, FCO AT 1630 ON 18 APRIL. I IMAGINE YOU WOULD WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HIM. I ALSO RECOMMEND A MEETING WITH A DTI MINISTER. ALLEN'S POSITION IS OF COURSE PIVOTAL IN THE WHOLE PROJECT AND HE DOUBTLESS WILL HAVE A SAY IN SIGNIFICANT CONTRACT AWARDS. WE HAVE MADE BIG (AND I HOPE SUCCESSFUL) EFFORTS TO GET ALONGSIDE HIM HERE, BUT A MINISTERIAL LEVEL CALL AT THE DTI OR FCO WOULD OF COURSE DO MORE. ALLEN CAME TO MY LUNCH FOR THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY ON 9 APRIL BUT THAT DID NOT GIVE MUCH CHANCE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATION.

2. MEANWHILE MRS ANSON CHAN, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF BAA WHO HAVE SHOWN LITTLE RECENT INTEREST. SHE SAID THEY HAD BEEN UNCO- OPERATIVE WHEN RECENTLY APPROACHED BY WARDLEY'S, UNLIKE VARIOUS OF THEIR RIVALS. (PRESUMABLY THIS WAS THE SAME APPROACH THAT PRODUCED BAA'S RECENT COMPLAINT TO THE DTI).

3. THE CONTENTION IN MY TELNO 91 THAT BRITISH COMPANIES WERE STANDING UNCOMFORTABLY FAR BACK AT PRESENT HAS RECEIVED SOME CONFIRMATION FROM RICHARD ALLEN, WHO TELLS ME THAT SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT ONLY JAPANESE COMPANIES HAD SOUGHT CALLS ON HIM. HE ASKED ABOUT BARRY MYERS WHO HE UNDERSTOOD WAS LEADING FOR TRAFALGAR HOUSE AND THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE MADE CONTACT. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD ALREADY EXPRESSED SIMILAR SURPRISE TO YOU (PARA 8

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