CONFIDENTIAL
(9)
160215
MDLOAN 9766
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1441
OF 06153OZ AUG 91
HKB 182 19
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
TOP COPY Q DIST?
AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME PROJECTS AND THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE
1.
WE WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR CURRENT THINKING ON HOW
FAR TO INVOLVE THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE IN AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME PROJECTS.
2.
ARTICLE C1 OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) STATES THAT WE WILL CONSULT THE CHINESE OVER, INTER ALIA, CONTRACTS STRADDLING 30 JUNE 1997. WHILE MANY OF THE AIRPORT CORE PROJECTS WILL HAVE BEEN FULLY COMPLETED BEFORE 1997, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT OTHERS WILL NOT HAVE FULLY RUN THEIR COURSE. FOR EXAMPLE THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING CONTRACT, ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY EARLY 1997, WILL NO DOUBT STILL HAVE SOME RESIDUAL TIME TO RUN. THERE MAY WELL BE (IN SIMPLISTIC TERMS) SOME RETENTION MONEY NOT YET PAID: THERE WILL ALSO NO DOUBT BE CLAUSES IN THE CONTRACT TO SAFEGUARD YOU SHOULD THE BRIDGE SUDDENLY COLLAPSE THROUGH SOME CONSTRUCTION FAILURE. THE CHINESE MIGHT ARGUE THAT BECAUSE OF THESE POST-1997 ASPECTS, THEY SHOULD BE CONSULTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE MOU. THEY COULD ADOPT THE SAME POSTURE FOR ANY OTHER CONTRACTS WHICH STILL HAVE SOME RESIDUAL APPLICATION POST 1997.
3.
WE HAVE ALREADY DECIDED, AND INFORMED THE CHINESE, THAT IT IS OUR INTENTION TO GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION THAN IS STRICTLY REQUIRED BY THE MOU. WE SHALL NEED TO SEPARATE CAREFULLY THE SUBJECTS WHICH WE CAN FULLY JUSTIFY AS BEING PURELY FOR INFORMATION AND THOSE ON WHICH THE CHINESE MIGHT SEEK CONSULTATION. WE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AMONG OURSELVES WELL BEFORE ANY CONTRACTS ARE DUE FOR SIGNATURE.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE BEST WAY TO PROCEED.
CHALKER
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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