FRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
GPS 350
FM HONG KONG 181645Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 418 OF 18 APRIL. 1973
MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
1
PA.
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24.1
YOU WILL PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE HEARD FROM THE BRITISH GROUP THAT:
(A) THE STEERING GROUP HELD A FIRST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE FOUR CONSORTIA (BRITISH, JAPANESE, ITALIAN AND FRENCH/GERMAN/ BRITISH) DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF MARCH, AND EXPLAINED OUR
POSITION IN DETAIL:
(B) WE ORIGINALLY INVITED THE CONSORTIA TO RETURN FOR A SECOND ROUND IN LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY TO PRESENT THEIR PRICING PHILOSOPHY AND TO GIVE INDICATIONS OF THE PRICE LIKELY TO RESULT FROM THE
APPLICATION OF SUCH PHILOSOPHY:
(C) WE HAVE NOW INFORMED ALL THE FOUR CONSORTIA OF A CHANGE IN THE TIMETABLE FOR THE SECOND ROUND, AND HAVE INVITED THEM TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PRESENTATIONS BY 4 JUNE AT THE LATEST, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE PERIOD 14 TO 22 JUNE.
A
2. WE HAVE DECIDED ON THIS CHANGE TO GIVE THE CONSORTIA LITTLE MORE TIME TO PREPARE THEIR PRESENTATIONS. HAVING REVIEWED OUR OWN PROGRAMME, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS, WE NOW FEEL WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS WITHOUT SERIOUSLY AFFECTING THE PROJECT SCHEDULE, AND WITHOUT
UNDUE RISK OF NUGATORY WORK ON THE PART OF THE CONSULTANTS.
CONFIDENTIAL
13°.
: