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TO PRIORITY TOKYO TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 187 OF 14 SEPTEMBER
INFO BTC HONG KONG.
FROM WATSON OPG.
ASTON IN HONG KONG ADVISES THAT ALY AZIZ, CHAIRMAN, DASHWOOD FINCANCE CO IS VISITING TOKYO ON 15 SEPTEMBER.
2. AZIZ HAS RECENTLY BECOME INTERESTED IN HONG KONG
MASS TRANSIT PROJECT. HE CLAIMS TO BE IN PROCESS OF
FORMING A BRITISH CONSORTIUM TO MAKE OFFERS IN RESPONSE
TO INVITATION ISSUED WORLDWIDE BY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
3. A BRITISH GROUP HAS ALREADY BEEN FORMED AND IS NOW
PREPARING ITS PROPOSALS, WE HAVE HAD NO CONTACT WITH
DASHWOOD FINANCE OR WITH THOSE HE PROPOSES TO BRING INTO
HIS CONSORTIUM, ALTHOUGH HE CLAIMS THAT HIS OFFICE IS
IN CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF EXISTING GROUP. THEY HAVE
SPOKEN ONLY TO COSTAINS WHO HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE FULLY ENGAGED IN EXISTING GROUP.
4.
SHOULD AZIZ APPROACH YOU, YOU CAN TELL HIM THAT
ESPECIALLY GIVEN NEED FOR A STRONG GOVERNMENT BACKING A
SINGLE BRITISH OFFER IS MOST DESIRABLE WAY OF DEALING
WITH PROJECT. STRONG BRITISH GROUP HAS ALREADY BEEN
FORMED AND HE MIGHT DO WELL TO DISCUSS WITH THEM IF HE
HAS A CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE.
5.
FOLLOWING EARLIER ABORTIVE ATTEMPT HERE TO SECURE
INTERVIEW WITH PRIME MINISTER (SEE MY CREDA 81 TO HONG KONG COPIED TO YOU), HE HAS NOW CONTACTED OPG AND WE WILL BE SEEING HIM 21ST SEPTEMBER.
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HOT LEE'D
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