5. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT WE SHALL TRY AGAIN TO CLOSE
THE GAP, WHICH I CALCULATE TO BE ABOUT 14-5 MILLION, I THINK I CO OBTAIN AN ASSURANCE FROM THOMPSON THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE HORSE TRADING. I KNOW THAT I DO NOT NEED TO STRESS THE DAMAGE WHICH WOULD BE CAUSED BY OUR LOSS OF THE STAGE 2 ORDER.
I DO NOT THINK THAT WE CAN RELY ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE. THE NEWLY OPENED GAP IS TOO WIDE AND BECAUSE NON-GOVERNMENTAL MEMBERS OF THE MTRC BOARD WHO ARE AWARE OF OR SUSPECT THAT POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS INFLUENCED THE AWARD OF THE KCR CONTRACT, WILL BE ALL THE MORE DETERMINED TO ENSURE THAT THIS CONTRACT IS AWARDED TO THE GENUINE LOWEST BIDDER.
6. AS I TOLD YOU ON THE TELEPHONE I SHOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A PRELIMINARY RESPONSE TO THOMPSON ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AND MUST THEREFORE ASK FOR AN INTERIM REPLY BY 172100Z.
MARCH
NNNN