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豐銀
CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 153
TOP COPY
TO HONG KONG
78
27 FEBRUARY 1969
(HKK 21/4)
CONFIDENTIAL.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM LORD SHEPHERD.
CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.
SINCE YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 19 I HAVE BEEN WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS WITH CLOSE INTEREST. I ENTIRELY SHARE YOUR VIEW THAT, IF THE PROJECT IS TO GO AHEAD, IT WOULD BE SINGULARLY UNFORTUNATE IF THE CONTRACT WERE TO BE LOST TO BRITAIN. I AM SURE YOU WILL HAVE WELCOMED THE RECENT EASEMENT IN ECGD'S TERMS. UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT YET BE SURE THAT EVEN THESE MODIFIED TERMS WILL SUFFICE TO SECURE THE PROJECT FOR BRITAIN, IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FIRM KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THE FINAL OFFERS OF THOSE COMPETING FOR THE PROJECT MAN BE.
2. AS I READ THE PAPERS, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A CRUCIAL AND
DETERMINING FACTOR MAY WELL BE THE ATTITUDE OF THE HONG KONG AND
SHANGHAI BANK OVER THE QUESTION OF GIVING A EVERAL GUARANTEE IN ANY
FORM. I REALISE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMEN IS AN INTERESTED PARTY
AS A POTENTIAL SHAREHOLDER (INCIDENTALLY, WE MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE OF A SEVRAL GUARANTEE TO YOUR
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS). BUT THINK IT IS NONE THE LESS ENTIRELY PROPER FOR ME TO ASK WHETHER YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE ATTITUDE OF THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI B.NK ON THIS POINT. AND.
SINCE WE BOTH ARE KEENLY INTERESTED ON THE ROADEST POLITICAL
GROUNDS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT STAYS BRITISH, IN ORDER THAT WE
AT THIS END CAN RESPOND QUICKLY AND DECISIVEY TO WHATEVER FRESH
DEVELOPMENTS THERE MAY BE I SHOULD BE MOST GATEFUL IF YOU COULD
KEEP US CLOSELY INFORMED OF ANY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE / SITUATION
CONFIDENTIAL
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