CONFIDEN: JAL
We
sub-contracts. But we should also be aiming for the big
contracts (in which our main hope is the Trafalgar
House/Costain led Anglo-Japanese Construction Company).
cannot ask the Hong Kong Government to tilt the playing
field in our favour. That would destroy its reputation, set a bad precedent for post 1997 and attract the criticism
that we were forcing Hong Kong to pay more for the work
than they needed to. But when assessing tender bids, there
are more subjective criteria (such as, for example,
commitment and credibility) in addition to objective price
comparisons that come into play. Richard Allen (the Chief Executive of the provisional Airport Authority) has already suggested that consortia may wish to invite Chinese participation (previously prohibited by Peking). The implication is that Chinese involvement will be one of the criteria in assessing bids. I see no reason why British
involvement should not be too. I have talked this over
with the Governor who I think understands the domestic
pressure in the UK. I have asked to be warned at an early stage if things are not going our way.
The location of the Consulate-General
The
4.
As you know, I have been looking again at the siting and nature of our presence in Hong Kong after 1997. land grant for the Colvin House site has been blocked in the Land Commission by the Chinese for the last 9 months. I think that we should ask the Prime Minister to try and
sort this out when he goes to Peking. If he succeeds that
would be good news. If not I should like to continue my re-thinking. I discussed this with the Governor. In any case we must also pursue the question of a suitable
residence for the Consul-General.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5.
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