Our reference: Your reference:
CONFIDENTIAL
BOARD OF TRADE
Overseas Frojects Group
1 Victoria Street, LONDON S.W.1 Telex: 25955 Answer Back: BOTHQ LONDON
Telans: Advantage London S.W.1
Telephone: ABBEY 7877, ext. 3382
22 August, 1969
52)
Kai-Tek Airport
I attach a copy of a letter which I have received from Plessey Radɛr about alleged decision of the Hong Kong Authorities to buy Terminal Area Surveillance Radar Equipment from Selenia in Italy. In conversation on the telephone with the Company I gathered that in their opinion this decision has been taken without up-to- date comparative assessment of the competing radars and thɛt like has not been compared with like. Whatever the facts of the case, however, we can support the Plessey claims for these AR5 radar and believe that any Plessey proposals should be taken seriously.
I should be grateful for your advice and for anything which you could do to assist the Plessey interest. I recognise that this may not be at all easy because of the present stake of discussions on the development of Kai-Tek Airport and you may indeed come to the conclusion that an approach at this stage could be counter-productive. Nevertheless this does seem to be a case where it could be to the advantage of the Hong-Kong authorities to accept the Plessey offer. to make an up-to-date technical proposal against a firm statement of requirement. This would not commit them to anything and might be of real value in coming to the optimum solution.
According to my information Mr. Saunders will in fact be attending the Civil Aviation Electronics Symposium in September and I have suggested to Mr. Martindale that Blessey, who are participating in the Symposium, should concentrate on contacting him there and discussing this matter with him. The Symposium should provide an excellent background for talks of this kind.
I am copying this to Stuart, Miss Doyle and Raffael.
J. K. Blackwell, Esq., C.B.E.,
Senior Trade Commissioner, Hong Kong.
C. F. McFarlane
CONFIDENTIAL
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