CONFIDENTIAL
4. The Hong Kong Government have invited contractors on a
world wide basis to indicate by mid-October their technical
ability to carry out the project, their estimate of cost and
their proposals for financing the project.
5. A British consortium of firms interested in the proposal
was formed in 1971. It includes major manufacturers and civil
engineering contractors, and major banking interests capable of
organising finance. The consortium is represented in Hong Kong
by Hutchinson International Ltd (Chairman, Sir Douglas Clague).
The main competition is expected to come from a Japanese ! consortium represented in Hong Kong by Jardine Matheson.
6. Proposals to help the UK consortium to secure the contract
are now being worked out by the ECGD and the DTI. The intention
is to submit a paper to Ministers before the end of September.
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department
August 1972
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CONFIDENTIAL