UNCLASSIFIED
FM BTC HONG KONG TO IMMEDIATE DTI
TELNO INTRA 108
OF 180125Z APRIL 92
AND TO PRIORITY F CO
INFO PRIORITY SEOUL, PEKING
INFO ROUTINE TOKYO
UNCLASSIFIED
TOP COPY Q DIST?
HKA 182/3
81
113033
MDLIAN 9678
Pa
FOR HALL, HEAD OF PEP
MIPT: HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT:
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MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST EDITORIAL OF FRIDAY 17 APRIL, HEADED 'CHEAP BID HITS HURDLE IN TWO HORSE RACE.'
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BEGINS
THE GOVERNMENT DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS THAT IT IS PRACTISING FAVOURITISM BY AWARDING LUCRATIVE AIRPORT AND RELATED CONTRACTS TO BRITISH FIRMS. OFFICIALS ARGUE THAT CONTRACTS ARE AWARDED TO COMPANIES BECAUSE OF THEIR FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS, ENGINEERING ABILITY AND PROVEN TRACK RECORD, AND NOT ON COST ALONE, OR PLACE OF ORIGIN. REPEATED ASSURANCES THAT HONGKONG IS FAIR IN ITS DEALINGS HAVE FAILED TO SILENCE THE CRITICS, HOWEVER.
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THERE IS CERTAIN TO BE FURTHER CONTROVERSY OVER THE TSING MA BRIDGE TENDERS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS REDUCED THE CANDIDATES TO TWO CONTENDERS THE ANGLO-JAPANESE CONSORTIUM OF MITSUI AND TRAFALGAR HOUSE, AND THE KOREAN CORPORATE GIANT HYUNDAI ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION. HYUNDAI HONGKONG EXECUTIVES COMPLAIN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN REASONABLE IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL FOR A BRIDGE COSTING DOLLARS 5 BILLION, DOLLARS 2.2 BILLION LESS THAN THE MITSUI-TRAFALGAR BID. THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO ASK HYUNDAI FOR ADDITIONAL GUARANTEES.
HYUNDAI HAS THE MEANS AND THE EXPERTISE TO HANDLE THE LARGEST PROJECTS, BEING THE SECOND BIGGEST CONGLOMERATE IN SOUTH KOREA. ITS NAME IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF KOREA. IT HAS BUILT SOME OF ITS MOST IMPOSING EDIFICES - OFFICE TOWERS, TUNNELS, BRIDGES AND DOCKS NOT ONLY ON THE PENINSULA, BUT AS FAR AFIELD AS THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE TWO OF ITS BEST CUSTOMERS ARE KUWAIT WHICH
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