CONFIDENTIAL
RECENT &
ANNIX A: HONG KONG AIRPORT: FORTHCOMING EVENTS
End-Feb: Airport Master Plan: UKRep JLG and HKG
briefed Airport Committee and Land
March:
Commission on Executive Summary of plan.
Probably uncontroversial. HKG Briefing of LegCo Ad Hoc Group and Airport Consultative Committee and publication of executive summary (28 February).
Airport Terminal: HKG announced design contract award on 2 March to the MOTT consortium (largely British).
Qian Qichen visit to London: (9 March), opportunity taken to remind Chinese of need for rapid progress.
Airport Railway: UKRep JLG/HKG briefed Chinese on 10 March (following up background paper passed over on 11 February). Negative Chinese reaction to cost increase, post-1997 contingent liabilities and extent of land grants to MTRC.
Airport Platform: Bids closed 12 March.
Airport Land Grant: HKG discussed proposals further with Chinese side in Land Commission on 20 March (initial discussion of HKG paper on 27 January). Chinese nervous about amount of land to be granted at nominal premium.
Airport Railway: UKRep JLG/HKG passed draft contract with MTRC to Chinese on 20 March for one month's consideration. (First formal test of Airport MoU provisions for consultation on major contracts straddling 1997).
Airport Authority Bill: UKRep JLG/HKG gave consultation document to Chinese. (Under Airport MOU HKG "will be willing to consider and take into account" Chinese views when drawing up the draft Bill). Unlikely to be controversial.
Airport Financial Plan: HKG put plan to ExCo
(24 March) Chinese to be briefed soon: may be concerned about Government contingent liabilities and scale of MTRC and AA borrowing.
ACP costs: UKRep JLG/HKG gave Chinese an update on 27 March.
Western Harbour Crossing: HKG invite tenders (to close in July).
ASHAIA
CONFIDENTIAL
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