1
2
}
Mr Manzie said that the Foreign Office would offer advice on this, and that he would be discussing the details of the project and its industrial implications with Sir Lawrence later that week. Sir Lawrence commented that this was the first foreign contract of any size which the UK was likely to complete with the Communist Government.
5 The Secretary of State said that Sir Lawrence's developing story was a very impressive one. He asked whether there was anything that he needed to do at present. Mr Manzie explained that the implications of the Guangdong project were currently being considered by officials and that papers would come to Ministers in due course. The Secretary of State also asked Sir Lawrence whether he had as much access as he wanted to the relevant people in Whitehall. Sir Lawrence said that he had and was particularly pleased that he would have an opportunity to convey the latest developments to the Prime Minister on the following day.
6 In conclusion the Secretary of State said that he had been extremely interested to hear the latest developments from Sir Lawrence and would follow the project with interest.
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Catherine
B
CATHERINE BELL
PS/Secretary of State for Industry
Rm 11.01 Ashdown Ext 3301
4 August 80
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