HKK 173/2.
RECEIVED RESTY NO. 51
NOW 1978
DEX OFFICER
RE!
INDER
PA
Action Twen
No
Seat
129
HKG D
37
00 BTC HONG KONG DESKBY 180100Z
GRS 260
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 180100Z
FM DTI 171941Z NOV 78
See (40)
PA
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 191 OF 17 NOVEMBER
FOR MARCH FROM TWYMAN O P G
YOUR CREDA 344: KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY
TRED. (2)
PUSD (2)
WE HAVE RAPIDLY CONSIDERED YOUR DRAFT TEXT. I REGRET THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SETTLE THE MATTER BY YOUR DEADLINE BUT WE ARE WORKING ON THE FOLLOWING LINES.
2. WE CANNOT AUTHORISE YOU TO GIVE A DIRECT ASSURANCE ON THE PRICE ON BEHALF OF HMG SINCE THIS WOULD INVOLVE AN OPEN-ENDED COMMITMENT TO BACK METRO-CAMMELL'S PERFORMANCE. WE ARE THEREFORE PLANNING AN ASSURANCE FROM METRO CAM WHICH YOU WOULD TRANSMIT ON THEIR
BEHALF.
3. WE ARE THINKING IN TERMS OF A TEXT FOR YOUR LETTER AS FOLLOWS:- QUOTE I AM AUTHORISED BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO CONVEY TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS IN THE UK BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND METRO CAMMEL LTD THE COMPANY ARE NOW ABLE TO ASSURE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE UNITS SPECIFIED IN HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TENDER NUMBER .... WOULD NOT EXCEED POUNDS STERLING 44 POINT 4 MILLION. THIS ASSURANCE IS ENCLOSED. UNQUOTE
4. THE METRO CAMMELL TEXT, TO BE SENT BY SANSOME AND TRANSMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER, WOULD SAY
QUOTE I AM WRITING TO SAY ON BEHALF OF METRO-CAMMELL LTD THAT THE COMPANY ASSURE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE ELECTRICAL MULTIPLE UNITS SPECIFIED IN HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TENDER NUMBER .... WOULD NOT EXCEED POUNDS STERLING 44 POINT 4 MILLION. UNQUOTE
5. WE ARE SEEKING TO CLEAR THIS TEXT WITH GARDINER AND TO GET THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES IN WHITEHALL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE NEXT WEEK.
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