HOFO 027/20
F CO
CYPHER CAT/A
FM BTC HONG KONG 200833Z
Fr
3.51
2 5 MAR 975
(31)
Victoria St
RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
TO ROUTINE D O T TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 38 OF 20 MARCH.
FOR FARRY OFPG FROM KINNEAR.
YOUR TEL NO CREDA 60: MASS TRANSIT.
128
I SPOKE TO THOMPSON ON THE TELEPHONE TO ASK WHETHER HE HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER. HE CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD AND THAT HE HAD REPLIED. HE SAID THAT CONTENTS WERE AS HE EXPECTED. HE APPEARS RESIGNED TO THE FACT THAT BRITISH CIVIL CONTRACTORS WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FIRST ROUND, BUT HOPES THAT THEY CAN BE PERSUADED TO REGISTER FOR THOSE CONTRACTS FOR WHICH 1 JUNE IS THE FINAL DATE.
Cc.
Mr. Male
2. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE E GCI APPROACH WAS NO PLOY AND THAT, IN THEIR VIEW, REGISTRATION FOR PREQUALIFICATION WOULD SUGGEST, WRONGLY, THAT THE INDUSTRY WAS PREPARED TO TENDER ON THE BASIS LAID DOWN IN THE M T A'S BROCHURE. THOMPSON SAID THAT HE FOUND THE CIVIL CONTRACTORS' APPROACH TO A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER SOMEWHAT PECULIAR, AND COMMENTED THAT FOR THEM TO QUERY THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE SCHEME WAS SOMETHING OF AN INSULT TO THE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, BUT THAT HE HAD NOT REPLIED IN WHAT HE REGARDED AS THE EMOTIVE TERMS OF THE E G C I LETTER. HE HAD SUGGESTED THAT SOMEBODY SHOULD COME OUT TO DISCUSS THE WHOLE SCHEME WITH HIM. HE WILL LET ME HAVE A COPY OF HIS REPLY AND I WILL PASS THIS ON TO YOU.
KINNEAR
NNNN
A/01 1 E. Farry V/426 2 MR Bryce OFP 3. MR Bilant OFP. 4. Mr Robarlö
CRE
ECAD
5 MR Pantón 6 MR O'Keefe HK OD FCO
CCN GROUP COUNT OF ABOVE SHOULD BE 130 REPEAT 130
15: cb.