1905
LDX---113/08
RR DOT/CREDA
RR HONG KONG
RR DOE
GR 480
RESTRICTED
See 32
Peking
Cricla
168
HACK 173/1.
16 AUG 1979
DECK OFICER
PA
ADVANCE. COPY
TOP+2 CRE/DOT
D. 4 E
ALO M' Twyman AAO DISTRIBUTION
Hiss Cubull 1/353
FM PEKING 0802412 AUG 79
TO ROUTINE DOT -
TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 168 OF 3 AUGUST 79
R 129 FILES FED
TREDX2 1050x2
INFO BTC HONG KONG, DOE (FOR PALMER, DEPT OF TRANSPORT) AND CRE4 (FOR HONG KONG/CHINA UNIT)
FOR TWYMAN OPG
BTC TELNO CREDA 159: GUANGZHOU TO SHUM CHUN RAILWAY
31
1. THIS IS A MOST INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TO EXPLAINING THE DIFFICULTY WE HAVE HAD IN PERSUADING THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS TO RESPOND TO THE TRANSMARK PROPOSALS.
2. WE HAVE NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHINA CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION. BUT QUALIFIED VISITORS HAVE OBSERVED THAT RAILWAY CIVIL ENGINEERING IN CHINA IS OF A
HIGH STANDARD IN TERMS OF DESIGN, SOUNDNESS OF CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE. THE CAMPBELL MISSION CONFIRMED THIS AFTER THEIR VISIT IN OCTOBER 1978.
3. AS STATED IN THE CCECC BID, CHINESE EXPERIENCE OF RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION BEGAN IN 1958 WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE BAOJI TO CHANGDU LINE (WITH FRENCH ADVICE). THAT LINE REMAÏNS AND IMPRESSIVE EXAMPLE OF CHINESE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.
THE CAMPBELL MISSION TRAVELLED ON PART OF THIS LINE AND THEIR REPORT CONTAINS ONE OR TWO REMARKS OF INTEREST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHINESE HAVE APPARENTLY NOT ENTIRELY OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION LINES.
P.A