GRS 245
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
185
Hkk ola
STT NO. 51
FM HONG KONG 670704Z DEC 78
IORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
RECEIVED
T
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1484 OF 7 DECEMBER
INFO F C O
OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
FOR BRAY FROM DAVIES: RN PATROL CRAFT REPLACEMENT.
1. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED TODAY THAT SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE (WHICH WILL BE SOUGHT ON DECEMBER 20TH) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT A DESIGN AND BUILD TENDER SYSTEM FOR 5 REPLACEMENT VESSELS SHOULD GO AHEAD.
2. IN THE COURSE OF DISCUSSION A NUMBER OF POINTS EMERGED REGARDING THE PROPOSAL WHETHER TO GO FOR A TENDER SYSTEM OF
IT WAS LEFT + 4 VESSELS OR 1 WITH 4 LATER OR FOR 5 VESSELS. THAT OFFICIALS OF THE HKG AND MOD (NAVY) WOULD HAVE FURTHER EXCHANGES ON THIS WITH A VIEW TO ENSURING THE MOST PRACTICAL AND
ECONOMICAL ARRANGEMENTS.
3. I
1 PROPOSE TO WRITE TO DAWSON OF MOD (NAVY) COVERING THIS POINT AND SOME OTHERS ONCE WE KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE APPROACH TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. MEANWHILE WILL YOU TELL DAWSON THAT THE FIRST STAGE OF CONSULTATIONS HERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED, BUT THAT WE AWAIT THE REACTION OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I WILL, OF COURSE, ADVISE YOU AT ONCE OF THE OUTCOME.
4. WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY PUBLICITY AT THIS STAGE, THOUGH WE WILL PREPARE A DEFENSIVE BRIEF IN CASE THERE IS A LEAK REGARDING THE PLANS TO REPLACE THE PATROL CRAFT. WE WILL ADVISE
YOU AND JSPR, HONG KONG, OF ITS TERMS. AT A LATER STAGE AND BEFORE TENDERS ARE CALLED, WE SHALL WANT TO MAKE SOME JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT IN TERMS AGREED WITH MOD (NAVY).
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD (6) DEFENCE D MR CORTAZZI MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE