RESTRICTED
126301
MDHIAN 6897
TOP Q DATO
DI
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2377
OF 260912Z JULY 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG-KONG, BTC HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 1361: PADS: MEDIA ARTICLES ON STATEMENT BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (PAA).
1. THE FINANCIAL TIMES ARTICLE IS A REASONABLY ACCURATE REPORT OF WHAT RICHARD ALLEN SAID AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON 22 JULY. HE WAS ASKED WHETHER THE PRE-QUALIFICATION EXERCISE COULD BE RE- OPENED TO ALLOW CHINESE COMPANIES TO BID FOR THE AIRPORT PLATFORM CONTRACT. HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, HE WOULD SHORTLY WRITE TO EACH OF THE CONTRACTORS WHO HAD BEEN PRE-QUALIFIED TO ASK WHETHER THEY WISHED TO RE-CONSIDER THE MAKE-UP OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THEIR CONSORTIUM.
2. OUR STANDARD PRACTICE IS TO ALLOW CONSORTIA WHO HAVE PRE- QUALIFIED FOR TENDER EXERCISES TO CHANGE THEIR COMPOSITION, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE GOVERNMENT. THIS APPROVAL WOULD NORMALLY BE FORTHCOMING IF WE WERE SATISFIED THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE STRENGTHENED RATHER THAN WEAKENED THE CONSORTIUM. WHAT MR. ALLEN IS PROPOSING IS THEREFORE ENTIRELY PROPER, ALTHOUGH HE IS BEING MORE PRO-ACTIVE THAN WOULD NORMALLY BE THE CASE IN ACTUALLY APPROACHING THE CONSORTIA TO SEE IF THEY WISH TO RE-CONSIDER THEIR COMPOSITION.
3. SO FAR AS WE ARE AWARE, THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE LED SO FAR TO ANY COMPLAINTS THAT THE PLAYING FIELD IS BEING TILTED TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHINESE. THE REALITY OF COURSE IS THAT THERE IS NO/NO TILTING. NOR WILL THERE BE.
WILSON
YYYY
PAGE 1 RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.