CONFIDENTIAL
122457
MDLIAN 4690
BRITISH FIRM, FBM ARE ALSO A BIDDER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED FOR ANY POST-BID CONSULTATIONS AND SEEM TO BE OUT OF IT). IT COULD GO ON THAT WE APPRECIATE THAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE DECIDED BY IMPARTIAL JUDGEMENT OF A COMPETITIVE TENDER, BUT THAT IF THE BIDS ARE VERY CLOSE WE HOPE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE RELIABILITY AND PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF THE BRITISH SUPPLIERS AND OF BRITAIN'S LONG SUPPORT FOR AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE DEFENCE ELEMENTS IN HONG KONG. IMPLICIT IN THE LETTER ALTHOUGH NO NECESSARILY STATED MIGHT BE THE THOUGHT THAT HMG HAVE GIVEN CONSIDERABLE RECENT SUPPORT TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT E.G. OVER THE PASSPORT PACKAGE AND OVER PADS AND THAT WE FOR OUR PART WOULD HOPE FOR A BENIGN ATTITUDE TOWARDS BRITISH SUPPLIERS FACED WITH A MAJOR GOVERNMENT ORDER OF THIS SORT.
HEAP
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
25
LIMITED
HKD
JOINT DIRECTORATE
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
DISTRIBUTION
27
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
MR MILES
ADDITIONAL
2
MEADWAY OT2, DTI VICTORIA ST
GROSSMAN, ARMD 3C, MOD
NNNN
PAGE 3 CONFIDENTIAL