TEL
RESTRICTED
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
INFO PEKING
FOR DAY FROM PENTECOST
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ALLAN (PAA) THAT THE MINISTER IS NOW (NOW)
TRAVELLING IN CHINA AND IS OUT OF TELEGRAPHIC CONTACT. BEFORE
HE LEFT PEKING HE AGREED THAT YOU SHOULD BE INSTRUCTED TO
REPLY. PLEASE THEREFORE MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS.
a
ECGD ARE IN NO DOUBT WHATEVER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
PADS TO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. THEY HAVE MADE THIS
CLEAR IN THE SUBSTANTIAL INDICATIONS OF SUPPORT THEY HAVE
GIVEN UK APPLICANTS FOR COVER FOR IMPORTANT AIRPORT
CONTRACTS (EG THE TSING MA BRIDGE AN THE NORTH LANTAU
EXPRESSWAY). EQUALLY ECGD AND THE DTI ARE WELL AWARE OF
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE PREPARATION CONTRACT
TO THE PROJECT AS A WHOLE AND THAT IT IS THE LARGEST
CONTRACT WHICH THE PAA (AS DISTINCT FROM OTHER HONG KONG
AUTHORITIES) WILL AWARD.
+
b
ON THE OTHER HAND, ALLAN WILL FOR HIS PART UNDERSTAND
THE CONSTRAINTS WITHIN WHICH ECGD HAVE TO OPERATE, WHICH
HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO HIM AND IN DETAIL TO DUNDAS, HIS
FINANCE DIRECTOR. THIS MEANS, IN PARTICULAR, THAT IT
WOULD NOT (NOT) BE SENSIBLE FOR ECGD TQ COMMIT FINITE
RESOURCES TO A PROJECT WHICH MAY NOT (NOT) BE LET FOR SOME
TIME, BEFORE IT KNOWS WITH ANY CERTAINTY WHAT LEVEL OF
SUPPORT WILL BE REQUIRED.
C
ALLAN HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SUPPORT FOR THIS
CONTRACT MUST DEPEND, INTER ALIA, ON A SATISFACTORY
SECURITY STRUCTURE.
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