UNCLASSIFIED COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
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PP BTC HONG KONG
GPS 195
UNCLASSIFIED
NO DISTRIBUTION
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
FROM DOT 101701Z NOV 82
TO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER OTTER 69 OF 10 NOVEMBER
351101
TRED HKG
хз
1 YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT MAXWELL-HYSLOP MP, CHAIRMAN OF
SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HAS RAISED WITH MFT
A CASE INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE SUPPLY OF POLICE LAUNCHES TO
HONG KONG BY JAMES AND STONE LTD.
2 THE COMPANY WHO ARE BIDDING FOR THE SUPPLY OF 15 LAUNCHES,
VALUE APPROX. POUNDS STERLING 15-20M, SAY THAT THEIR PRICE WILL BE
A COMPETITIVE ONE BUT SUFFER, PARTICULARLY AGAINST LIKELY
CHINESE COMPETITION, BECAUSE OF THE SHIPPING COSTS FROM THE
UK. MAXWELL-HYSLOP ASKED ON THEIR BEHALF WHETHER THERE WAS
ANY WAY IN WHICH WE WOULD ASSIST IN MEETING THE SHIPPING COSTS
BUT WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS NOT. THE ORDER IS ALSO
TOO SMALL TO QUALIFY FOR SHIPBUILDING INTERVENTION AND OTHER
FORMS OF INDUSTRY ACT ASSISTANCE DO NOT APPEAR TO BE APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE HOWEVER SUGGESTED THAT THE COMPANY KEEP IN TOUCH WITH
US IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE WE OR
YOU CAN GIVE THEM.
3 IT IS LIKELY THEREFORE THAT THIS CASE AND POSSIBLY THE
GENERAL SHIPPING COST PROBLEM WILL BE RAISED WITH YOU DURING
THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S VISIT.
1
UNCLASSIFIED COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE