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Flpb
JL.MA
Mr King, ODM
1947
CONFIDENTIAL
May 21
12)
HONG KONG
1. You minuted on your copy of my submission of 27 November to ask whether the hope that aid for Hong Kong might promote our commercial interest in a number of important contracts
had in fact been realised.
2.
What was in mind in 1972 was very largely the Mass Transit contract for an underground railway in Hong Kong. As you may know, the Japanese were able to offer a fixed price for this very large contract, and although all concerned tried to make it possible for the UK to stay in the running, this factor, in an inflationary situation, was enough to sway the decision in favour of Japan.
3. Nevertheless, having promised the aid publicly and at Ministerial level, I would strongly advise against any suggestion of cancelling it. This would have very unfortunate effects on the whole range of British interests in Hong Kong.
Br Wade - Blou
As
2 December 1974
Сс
Mr Male
Mr Williams, ODM
Munster
ACSL
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
pm.61x
In Huyfell Or Largand the Male
&
RECHVID IN PRIVATE CITICE
De lich with purines Us.
We shivusly count
4 DEC 1974
ACKD.
cancel the
offer
but it shows
the
uwisdom of using
and
for spacious marind advantage.
ammereich
Indeed.
Абик
CONFIDENTIAL
4/12