PMAR-'EI MON 22:38 12:"*"* BOSWELL - - NHQ FAK NO:09ES 811039
-MAR-'93 SUN 14:07 10: DAVENTRY CONS ASSN
NO:8327 312263
FLEXIFRAME
Conservative Party Administration Office
TO
:
FAX NO.
:
0327 310263
ATTN.
Tim Boswell
FROM
Jon Lougea
FACES
1
DATE
12 March 1993
REF
P01
#608 P01
Dear Tim
i must express my concem over the Government's handling of the situation in Hong Kong. Chris Patten has minimal experience and understanding of negotiating in Asia; by breaking agreements already in place with The People's Republic of China, he is simply gambling not only with the future of Hong Kong but also UK exports to PRC. Working with one of the newly privatised Water Companies, we are at an advanced stage of negotiations with a major Municipality in PRC for a water treatment works which will ba supplied under a 20 year "Bulld, Own, Operate and Transfer” (BOOT) scheme. Having seen the way in which the Chinese reacted to the French over an arms deal, I am extremely nervous that this £50 million contract could be seriously jeopardised by the inaptness of Chris Patten's negotiating abilities. Please understand that if there is any suggestion that the success of this project could be jeopardised, we shall have no hesitation in taking the supply element of the contract out of the UK and working with a water company from another country.
I should be grateful if you would make my feelings known to the Foreign Office.
With kind regards.
Jon Lougee