RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 40
OF 02103OZ FEBRUARY 93
RESTRICTED
123144
MDHIAN 7876
10
TUP CORY
Q DIST?
3
NEW CONSULATE-GENERAL.
1. TELNO ACCOM 3 HAS BEEN COPIED TO MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMITTEE. I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT MY TELNO 11 OF 12 JANUARY WAS A COMMITTEE DRAFT, NOT MINE, SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
2. PARA 2 OF ACCOM 3
7
(I) WE AWAIT NEWS FROM SWIRES:
92 HKD406/1
188
I I
W
(II) NEWEY'S FAX OF 30/11 CERTAINLY MENTIONED AN UNACCEPTABLE INCREASE OVER BUDGET AND WENT ON TO SAY THAT ''STEVE WILL HAVE NOTHING SUBSTANTIVE TO REPORT TO YOU ON COSTS
THE NEWS THAT REACHED THE COMMITTEE AFTER HIS DEPARTURE THAT THE WIDNELL COSTINGS WERE APPROX DOUBLE THE ESTIMATE CAUSED CONSIDERABLE UNEASE. (THE RECORD OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OF 6/1 SEEMS TO MAKE NO REFERENCE TO THE 14 MILLION POUND STERLING REDUCTIONS ACHIEVED BY WHITTLE.)
3. IT IS NOT FOR US TO QUESTION TECHNICAL DETAILS SINCE WE HAVE NO EXPERTISE AND WE ARE IN ANY CASE UNDER INSTRUCTIONS TO TALK TO NONE OF THE COMPANIES INVOLVED.
4. THE COMMITTEE'S CONCERN IS (A) FOR THE PUBLIC COMMITMENT MADE IN HONG KONG BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN 1991 AND (B) THAT THE WHOLE PROJECT SHOULD BE HANDLED IN SUCH A PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT IT WILL ENHANCE THE AIM OF HMG, THROUGH THE DTI AND BTC, TO ADVISE BRITISH COMPANIES ON HOW TO APPROACH THE BIGGEST PROJECT MARKET IN THE WORLD.
5. WE ARE ALWAYS BEING ASKED ABOUT CLADDING (A QUESTION THAT AROSE IN JUNE AND AGAIN AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETINGS IN LONDON AND THAT FARRELL'S WERE UNABLE TO ANSWER). SOME LAYMAN'S EXPLANATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED IN DUE COURSE BUT WE WOULD NOT WISH TO HOLD UP DECISIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE MADE IN LONDON.
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HICO 406/2
RECE
02 FEB 1993
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