7
OUND IDENTI AL
260
Dr Rishford near enough I think?
дебе 26/10
HKK
NOTE OF A MEETING HELD IN THE TREASURY ON 23 OCTOBER 1973
PRESENT:
Treasury:
Mrs E H Boothroyd (Chairman);
Mr H S Lee;
Mr W L St Clair;
Mr I E Rich
Mr FW Glaves-Smith;
DTI:
Mr H Hochfelder
ECGD:
Mr E Panton
BOE:
Mr AL Ryan;
Mr P Rackham
I think so
A.R.R. 29.10
no
Goodfellow
As
29/10
FCO:
Mr AC Stuart
Mr AR Rushford
HONG KONG
cc ila D. KERR FRD. Leut 3/10
Beuty.
+ PA (way)
1. The Chairman referred to the DTI letter of 17 October about the mass transit system, and to Hong Kong telegram no 1200 of 19 October. The latter reported that the Japanese bid for the contract had been declared valid, even though it assumed a Hong Kong Government guarantee on the finance, and that a period of 45 days would now be allowed for counter-bids. The purpose of the meeting was to consider whether the Hong Kong Government had power to provide a guarantee to the Japanese, and, if it had, whether the UK should take any steps to veto it or alternatively make any public disclaimer of ultimate UK responsibility; how the situation might best be exploited to the UK's advantage.
and
2.
1