CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
80
PRIORITY HONG KONG
TO EXPORT CREDITS GUARANTEE DEPARTMENT
TELEGRAM NO.EXCED 43
3 MARCH
1969
LAST
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL
FOR COTTERILL FROM HANNAM,
ALXI
Mer.
683
MY EXCED 41 CNOT TO ALL). ACCORDING TO COWPERTHWAITE THE
GOVERNOR'S REMARKS WERE MERELY INTENDED TO SERVE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT
DELAYS WERE NOT THE FAULT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
2. I ASKED TO SEE MARDEN ON MARCH 3 TO REVIEW PROGRESS. HE RECEIVED
ME WITH SCALES AND BROTHERS. I SAID THAT I HAD HAD A LOT OF COCKTAIL
PARTY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TUNNEL AND FELT IT WAS TIME FOR A LESS
INFORMAL REVIEW. I ENQUIRED WHETHER THE TUNNEL COMPANY HAD HAD
ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH E.C.G.D. SINCE MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY
TO CLAGUE, MARDEN SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS
BUT WAS EVASIVE WHEN I ENQUIRED WHAT HAD BEEN THE PURPOSE OF
WARBURTON'S VISIT TO LONDON SUBSEQUENT TO HIS TALKS WITH TOMMILLS IN
CHICAGO.
3. I THEN ENQUIRED HOW MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY HAD BEEN RECEIVED
BY THE TUNNEL COMPANY BOARD, I WAS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT KADOORIE
IS STILL EMOTIONALLY AGAINST THE BRITISH OFFER, BUT THAT HIS
FEELINGS ARE NOW COOLING DOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPANY HAD
NOW WRITTEN OFFICIALLY TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON THE LINES OF
THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY TO CLAGUE, THEY HAVE
NOT WRITTEN TO THE BANK, BUT MARDEN'S OPINION IS THAT THE BANK
WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S LEAD. THE GOVERNMENT
HAVE NOT YET REPLIED TO THE COMPANY.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.
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