THE Provisional Airport Authority has rejected Gammon Construction, a Jardines subsidiary, from tenders for the $5.3 billion passenger terminal construction contract at Chek Lap Kok.
A PAA spokesman said the decision was taken for commercial reasons and not for political considerations to forestall a row with China over Jardines' involvement on the complex.
'We are at pains to stress the firms were chosen on the basis of an absolutely level playing field,' said PAA corporate affairs director Clinton Leeks.
China has viewed Jardines with disfavour since the firm moved its registered office to Bermuda in 1984 over fears of political instability after the 1997 handover.
Jardines compounded Chinese anger by supporting Governor Chris Patten's electoral reforms.
The Liberal Party infrastructure spokesman, Albert Chan Wai-yip, said he would seek an explanation from the PAA today about its decision.