SOLEKCHAEL IN COMEDONOS
-2-
we have at least lolped to persuade 20 to register in such a way that its options are open ond by the time the LC 1. sonders go out, the future of the whole schele, including the prospects of finding money for it, hopefully should be a rood deal clearer. I quite accept that reconsideration of the position on DCTD cover should be left until such time as the situation on the project itself and the chances of its roceeding have been clarified and the whole present rather urly icture is comewhat clearer. I still hope, however, that 3D may be persuaded to put together a rather better offer for a package deal, if it begins to look as though this will be our best chance of securing business and, Lore particularly, if we are going to find ourselves in a difficult position on the & side because we are not making any contribution towards the civil side. Rooney, incidentally, confined that he had been told that a consortium (presumably the Hochtief one) is caying that its price on the civil side will be conditional on getting a share of the contracts.
I hope Thompson will be able to resist this sort of approach, but quite clearly it is a danger to be reckoned with.
Turning to the political aspects, it is not, I think, clitirely correct to say that there is "no lack of ritish interest in much other business in Hong Long". The sad fact romain that we enjoy between Sy and of only of total importe into a britio. Colony. Much effort has been devoted in the last few years to try to improve the British commercial
erformance in Long Long and persuado british industry not to bolte the merket for granted. The figure is not as blī 27 14
we can not be major suppliers of much of the food, clay clothing mrd row noterials consumed by Long Jong'. population and induda popr. Nevertheless, it is renerally vccepted that we should have a larger share of the market, given all that we have going for us here. It is the very fact that long wong is a British Colony Mhich is going to do us co ..uch hurt commercially and, I believe, politically if British iniustry fails to obtain a reasonable shore of the pickings or this project. Other countries are unlikely to appreciate the impartial nature of the British Colonial ad.inistration and the detached approuol. of the Mass Transit Luthority. consequence, failure by British industry to obtain a reasonable share of the contracts will inevitably reflect adversely, and
erlaps unfairly, on British industry's performance as a whole
thic part of the world.
As a
Tiun K
05/
Roberts/ch
IAC himear
Jenior British Brude Commissioner
cc: ranton/00
Dr C'Loofe/10000-200
isselly/treasury
✓
MATYA MA
ton, hut no on and resto
Pity &
MARGA vá any b
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th
cestou for any errors or omissions
IN At Louis mentioned.