CONFIDENTIAL
20/2/1
B
Costains leading on construction, General Electric Company on
equipment and Lazards on finance.
They approached Export
Credits Guarantee Department and were assured of full
Government backing.
Subsequently they linked up with the
important Hutchison International Group of companies in Hong
Kong. Two months later Mir Aziz was in Hong Kong and expressed
interest in the financial side of the scheme.
4
He was recommended by the Overseas Projects Group of the
Department of Trade and Industry to discuss his possible
contribution to the project with Lazards, who apparently made
it clear to him that they did not need him. At a meeting with
Mr Aziz on 21 September at which Mr Aziz expressed criticism
of the consortium's approach, Overseas Projects Group explained
to Mr Aziz that the Government's support of the British
consortium was the result of discussions over a long period of
time and, given the size of the project, Her Majesty's Government
was unlikely to welcome a competing consortium. However, much
would depend on whether any other group could demonstrate that
they would improve the British chances of success. Mr Aziz was
invited to put his proposition in writing and explain in what
way he thought it would improve the United Kingdom's chances.
Mr Aziz wrote to Overseas Projects Group on 26 September saying
he was trying to form a consortium but that if he could not do
so he would withdraw. On 28 October he again wrote to Overseas
CONFIDENTIAL
/Projects