COVERING SECRET
(320 (311)
319)(318
Minyster
Ma thighet (HR*IOD.).
321
DEC1773
HKK 21/4
PA
320 Flag A
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Mr Youdé
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PS to Fr Royle
HONG KONG MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM
1.
瓜
п
Googhellow
4
The Anglo-Italian
Action has been proceeding in two channels.
Group have reorganised their bid and left for Hong Kong yesterday.
They took with them a new document which they will discuss with the
Hong Kong Steering Group with the intention of agreeing and submitting
it before the deadline of 2 December. The wording of this document
is still somewhat tortuous. It is a further attempt to reconcile
the consortium's hesitations about bidding a fixed price before all
the information is in,with the Hong Kong Government's demands for a
fixed price before 2 December. Much will depend on whether the
notional prices to be quoted under the various options in the
proposal will be low enough to attract the Hong Kong Government.
Mr Kindersley of Lazards who will be leading the team believes that
they will. We can only hope he is right.
2.
Meanwhile the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
(311) replied on 26 November to our Secretary of State's earlier minute
(319)
suggesting that he should call in Sir Arnold Weinstock. Private
Office have already written to the DTI to say that the Secretary of
State agrees with Mr Walker.
COVERING SECRET
13.