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318) 3.
317)
At the same time the Prime Minister minuted strongly to the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry saying that it was
37 essential that we should win the contract. Mr Walker has now replied
describing the Anglo-Italian Group's latest moves and what was being
done to support them.
4.
I attended a meeting yesterday at the DTI with representatives
from the Treasury and ECGD. We agreed that action was now in the
hands of the consortium team in Hong Kong. They had had a shock
and were anxious to do everything possible to keep in the game.
There was some discussion of whether we should approach the Japanese
in case the UK-Italian bid failed. The consensus was that this could
only be a last resort. If the Hong Kong Government made it clear
to us on 2 December that our bid had failed, there would still be
time to go
to the Japanese before EXCO met on 5 December. We might
also ask the Governor to urge the Japanese to give some of the work
to us but at that stage it would only be likely to be on a
sub-contracting basis. Meanwhile it was agreed that it would be
better not to open up this unappetising possibility.
5.
I asked whether the DTI were satisfied that their Secretary
of State's latest minute fulfilled the Prime Minister's requirements.
Mr Royce said he thought so but would check with Lord Bridges.
29 November 1973
сс
Sir D Watson
Private Secretary Mr Marshall/TRED
Jest
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
зори
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