SOURCE OF THE STORY IS NOT KNOWN.
WHEN ASKED FOR COMMENT ON IT LAST EVENING H.K. GOVERNMENT SAID
NOTHING AND HUTCHISONS MERELY CONFIRMED THAT DISCUSSIONS WERE
TAKING PLACE IN LONDON.
CHINA MAIL, AFTERNOON DAILY, TODAY (27) ALSO CARRIES A SIMILAR
REPORT INCLUDING A COMMENT BY A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE NEGOTIATIOFS''
CIN FACT HUTCHISONS) THAT NO MAJOR DIFFICULTIES HAD BEEN ENCOUN-
TERED IN FORGING THE LINK AND THAT ''FROM THE START IT HAD THE
BLESSING OF BOTH THE ITALIAN AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS AND IT WAS
THEN JUST A MATTER OF TYING UP THE FINANCIAL ENDS AND DOVETAILING
THE BRITISH HECHANICAL ELECTRICAL WITH THE ITALIAN CIVIL''.
NONE OF THE OTHER PRESS HAVE CARRIED THE STORY SO FAR.
ASTON.
NNNNY
PRODROME LONDON
HX3031 UK TRADET
$