CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG
ΤΟ IMMEDIATE F C O TELNO 21
OF 18014OZ JANUARY 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE DTI
HUD 340/5
OY
9
137453
MDHIAN 9272
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM HEAP
DTI FOR OT2/2
8
YOUR TELNO 16? BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS
ken
TOP COPY Q DIST?
1.
THANK YOU FOR THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HUTCHISONS. AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE I AM AWARE OF THE COMPANY'S CONCERNS AND MUCH OF MY MEETING WITH SIMON MURRAY ON 14 JANUARY (MY TELNO 15 REFERS) WAS SPENT TELLING HIM WHAT INFORMATION WE REQUIRED AND HOW IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED. THE MEETING WILL I HOPE HAVE ALLAYED ANY FEARS HE MAY HAVE HAD REGARDING THE OBJECTIVITY OF THE COMMITTEE. HE HAS HAD MORE COACHING ON WHAT IS REQUIRED THAN ANYONE ELSE IN HONG KONG. ANY SUGGESTION THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WANT TO KEEP THEM OUT ON COMMERCIAL GROUNDS IS NONSENSE. THEY ARE A LONG WAY FROM THE NORMAL PERCEPTIONS OF A BRITISH COMPANY OR UNDERTAKING. WE ARE FALLING OVER BACKWARDS TO TRY TO GET THEM IN, BUT WE CANNOT READILY INVENT NEW CRITERIA APPLICABLE JUST TO THEM, AND THE COMMITTEE I THINK WOULD RESENT NEW CRITERIA BEING INTRODUCED AS THIS STAGE. I SUGGEST THEREFORE WE WAIT FOR HUTCHISONS TO PROVIDE THE NEW INFORMATION I HAVE REQUESTED BEFORE DECIDING ON THE APPROACH SUGGESTED IN PARA 5 OF YOUR TUR.
2.
TO GIVE YOU THE FULLEST POSSIBLE PICTURE OF HOW THINKS STAND ON THESE DIFFICULT COMPANIES I AM SENDING YOU BY FAX ALL THE INFORMATION WE HAVE SO FAR ON HUTCHISONS, WHARF, KCRC, MTR AND TOWN GAS.
3.
A CONSOLIDATED LIST OF ALL THE COMPANIES APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND PROCESSED BY THE DTI, INCLUDING THE 107 COMPANIES IN DAVID SMITH'S FAX OF 9 JANUARY AND FURTHER NAMES SENT IN HIS FAXES OF 10 AND 15 JANUARY WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN CLEARED BY THE DTI (TELECON SMITH/GRAY OF 17 JAN), WILL BE FAXED TO YOU VERY QUICKLY. YOU NEED TO INCORPORATE YOUR CREDIT AGENCY FINDINGS SINCE THIS INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED.
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL