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transport, rather than as essential expenditure directed towards the maintenance of a buoyant economy.
There is an obvious and understandable reluctance on the part
of the financial authorities to sanction expenditure on the scale required unless and until every possible means of finance has been exhaustively examined. Generally, however, it
appears that the inevitability of the eventual expenditure is accepted and that all the present delays are affording time for a continuing reconciliation of views.
The consensus of opinion seems to be that a decision is likely to be made somewhere between the end of this year and the first half of the next year and that this decision is likely to be favourable. The Hong Kong authorities, although
1
they have entertained the idea of letting the work out in 'penny-packets', are likely to recognise the additional hazards that would be involved in this procedure and they would, in
any case, be concerned with the measure of financial assistance
they are likely to receive. They are quite rightly determined to obtain the best value that they can for their money and this is · where they will look beyond the United Kingdom, and particularly to the Japanese, for competition.
There is, however, no apparent pre-disposition towards Japanese methods or equipment and indeed rather the reverse. There is obviously sympathy towards the United Kingdom. This sympathy has not been dimmed by any of the resentments which are felt in Hong Kong about the treatment of other matters by the United Kingdom authorities and, in particular, the problems associated with the financing of Hong Kong Airport and the ownership of traffic rights there. This point ismentioned because extreme sensitivity about this was revealed in discussions at all levels.
Specificially, it was stated that no comparable Mission had visited Hong Kong and the level of representation was obviously appreciated.
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