CONFIDENTIAL
HKA 182/3
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG TO IMMEDIATE DTI TELNO INTRA 118
OF 010932Z MAY 92
AND TO PRIORITY FCO
INFO PRIORITY ECGD, PEKING, SEOUL, TOKYO
78
150356 MDHIAN 2367
TOP COPY QDIST?
Pa
FOR HALL, HEAD OF PEP
90
MY INTRA 116: HONG KONG AIRPORT PROJECT: THE MAIN BRIDGE CONTRACT
SUMMARY
1. IT SEEMS PROBABLY THAT THE AWARD WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 8 MAY. THE ANGLO-JAPANESE GROUP (AJC) SEEM STILL TO BE IN POLE POSITION.
DETAIL
2. WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CONFLICTING INFORMATION BOTH ON THE TIMING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND ON THE LIKELY WINNER. SIR D FORD, CHIEF SECRETARY, HAS SAID AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD COME ON 7 MAY. ANOTHER WELL PLACE SOURCE HAS SUGGESTED IT WILL BE ON FRIDAY 8 MAY, ADDING THAT THIS COULD BE ADVANCED BY 24 HOURS IF THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION RECEIVES AN UNQUALIFIED ENDORSEMENT FROM EXCO ON 5 MAY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WILL BE TOLD ON 5 MAY.
3. WE BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED ON FINANCIAL RATHER THAN ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS. THE GROUP'S DIFFICULTIES CONTINUE TO RECEIVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA HERE AND THERE IS NOW A GOOD AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE OF THE RISKS IN AWARDING THIS KEY CONTRACT TO THEM. THIS WILL OF COURSE SERVE TO TEMPER PRESS COMMENTS AND REACTIONS WHEN THE
ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH WE EXPECT IS MADE.
4. SIR D FORD HAS INSISTED TO ME THAT THE FRENCH LED GROUP ARE STILL IN SERIOUS CONTENTION AND THAT WE WOULD BE ILL ADVISED TO DISCOUNT THAT. INDEED HE STRESSES THAT THE ISSUE IS STILL WIDE OPEN. I FIND THIS HARD TO SWALLOW. IF A DECISION IS BEING PREPARED FOR EXCO ON 5 MAY THEN IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO SUPPOSE THAT THE DECISION IS ALL BUT MADE. IF SO, THEN IT SEEMS TO BE GOING THE ANGLO JAPANESE GROUP'S WAY. I CAN FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS GOING ON WITH THE FRENCH GROUP AT
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CONFIDENTIAL
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