21/2
24 March, 1969
Cross Harbour Tunnel
1.31
ARCE
28 MART 1969
HKK 21/4
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You will have seen from my Exced 62 that the present delay is being caused by drafting difficulties in the Government Secretariat, in the preparation of the letter they are writing to the Tunnel Company concerning the conditions governing Government participation.
I understand
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that the conditions which are being spelled out are not unduly onerous, and do not affect the main guarantee question.
They
2. I am in constant contact with the Tunnel Company, who are, of course, on tenterhoods. They told me that they have a letter in draft addressed to me setting out the terms on which they would like to re-open negotiations with you. will despatch this letter as soon as they have digested the Government's letter to them. Upon receiving the letter from the Tunnel Company I will, of course, telegraph you immediately.
3.
Although the possibility cannot be ruled out of Sir John Cowperthwaite coming to London to conduct the negotia- tions, this possibility now seems to be receding. It seems more likely that the negotiations will be left in the hands of Messrs. Scales and Brothers, though the more senior directors would fly from here immediately should the negotiations strike rough water.
4.
The
I think you have met both Scales and Brothers before. former is the Managing Director of Wheelock, Marden & Co., Ltd. He is an F.C.I.S. and was born in 1923. From conversation with him I believe that he started his career as a clerk in the British Customs, which is where he met his wife.
He is, however, a relative of John Marden (I believe they are cousins) and before so long Customs work palled and he came to the Far ast some years ago. He has a slightly diffident personality, but looks on things from a commonsense point of view. With his years here, he has become a dyed in the wool Hong Kong-type colonial.
K. W. Cotterill, Esq.,
Export Credits Guarantee Department, Board of Trade.
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