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5. HE STRESSED THAT HE IS DESPERATELY CONCERNED TO BE ABLE
TO PROVE THAT HE HAS PLAYED FAIR WITH ALL THE COMPETITORS AND HAS
DONE THE BEST THING FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS. HE DOES NOT
WANT TO BE AT ANY RISK OF BEING ACCUSED OF FAVOURING ONE MORE
THAN THE OTHER AND TO THIS END, FOR EXAMPLE, DISUCSSION WITH
ANY PARTY IS RECORDED AND EVERY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION TAPED.
THUS HE COULD NOT GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT THE JAPANESE
OFFER UNTIL AND UNLESS HE WAS PREPARED TO GIVE
JAPANESE INFORMATION ABOUT OURS. HE WILL DO THIS BUT QUOTE
AT OUR CHOOSING AND TIMING UNQUOTE SO AS TO QUOTE SQUEEZE THE
BEST UNQUOTE OUT OF EACH PARTY. WHEN THE NEGOTIATIONS START
HE EXPECTS TO HAVE QUOTE TO PLAY IT ROUGH UNQUOTE AND TO THIS
END WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH HE LEAKS AND WHEN TO EACH PARTY.
6. AS TO TIME-TABLE, HE SAID THAT HE IS NOW PRESSED TO
PREPARE HIS BUDGET FOR 28 FEBRUARY AND DOES NOT THINK THAT
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN HE CAN DO MORE THAN PUT THE M.T.S.
DECISION IN PRINCIPLE AND SHORT LIST (STILL BEING WHITLED DOWN) OF CONTENDERS TO EXCO. THEREAFTER HE EXPECTS TO REQUIRE
A GREAT DEAL MORE INFORMATION FROM ALL PARTIES AND RECOGNIZES
THEY WILL NEED TIME TO PREPARE THIS. HE GAVE ME OFF-THE-
RECORD ESTIMATE NOT TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM THAT HE WILL
BE ABLE TO ASK THE SHORT LIST FOR FURTHER PROPOSALS
TOWARDS THE END OF FEBRUARY FOR PREPARATION IN MARCH WITH
A VIEW TO FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH APRIL AND SIGNATURE
CONTRACT EARLY IN MAY. HE AT PRESENT ENVISAGES THAT
DISCUSSIONS IN APRIL WOULD BE MAINLY IN THE CAPITALS BECAUSE
HE FINDS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK AWAY FROM OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
IF HE REMAINS IN HONG KONG (BUT HE HAS NOT YET PUT THIS TO THE GOVERNOR).
/7.