5.
THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD DEAL MORE INTEREST IN THE F AND M CONTRACS I HOPE SHORTLY TO HAVE A LIST OF FIRMS WHICH HAVE REGISTERED
FOR THESE. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THOMPSON WHETHER HE SAW ANY PARTICULAR ADVANTAGE IN A CONSORTIUM ON THE E AND M SIDE, OR A
CONSORTIUM COMBINING E AND M AND CIVIL WOPKS. IN THE CONNECTION I
ALSO ASKED WHAT THE ATTITUDE WAS LIKELY TO BE TOWARDS MEMBERS
OF THE FORMER JAPANESE CONSORTIUM. WHILE THOMPSON MADE IT CLEAR
THAT MEMBERS OF THE FORMER JAPANESE CONSORTIUM WOULD NOT BE BARRED, THEY WOULD AS HE PUT IT HAVE TO TELL A VERY GOOD STORY''. ON THE
E AND M SIDE HE SAW CERTAIN DISADVANTAGES IN A CONSORTIUM WHICH INCLUDED A MANUFACTURER PRODUCING PRODUCTS NOT WANTED BY THE CORPOR~- ATION. HE EMPHASISED THAT HE WANTED NO PROTOTYPES AND DID NOT WANT TO BE TOLD WHAT EQUIPMENT THE CORPORATION SHOULD TAKE. THIS ASPECT APART, HOWEVER, THE CORPORATION WOULD LOOK AT ANY PACKAGE OR COMBINATION AND THOMPSON REITERATED THAT THE CORPORATION WOULD BE FLEXIBLE. HE COULD ENVISAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CORPORATION NEGOTIA- TING WITH A BRITISH CONSTRUCTION FIRM TIED UP WITH A BRITISH FIRM ON THE E AND M SIDE WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM'S BID WAS NOT AS GOOD AS OTHERS ON THE CIVIL SIDE, BUT THE E AND M ONE WAS A WINNER.
6. ALTHOUGH THOMPSON TOLD ME HE WAS REASSURED BY THE REGISTRATION SO FAR ON THE CIVIL SIDE, I WOULD JUDGE THAT HE WOULD BE VERY MUCH HAPPIER IF THERE WAS MORE INTEREST. THERE IS NOTHING TO BE LOST BY REGISTRATION AND, IF THE COMPETITION IS NOT GOING TO BE PARTICULARLY STRONG AND THE CORPORATION IS AS REALISTIC IN ITS APPROACH AS I BELIEVE IT WILL BE, POSSIBLY A GOOD DEAL TO BE, GAINED. THERE IS LITTLE TIME LEFT. CAN YOU SEE WHETHER YOU CAN STIMULATE SOME
INTEREST?
7. YOU MAY LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE MASS TRANSIT AUTHORITY HAS NOW MOVED TO HUTCHINSON HOUSE, HARCOURT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG. ITS TELEX NO IS 86257 TUBES HX.
KINNEAR