TNAG-0097-FCO40-133-Construction-of-a-Cross-Harbour-Tunnel-1968 — Page 174

Our Ref: CRE.8159/PT.2/G

10th August, 1967.

€/47

(40)

Ko

You may recall that Ben Thorne, the Acting Principal Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, wrote to Elliott in your Department on 22nd July, 1967, about the Hong Kong tunnel. referred to a point made by the Manager of the tunnel company to the effect that a good deal still had to be negotiated between the Tunnel Company and Costains which must be done before Costains offer expires on 31st August, but which cannot be done until the financial question including guarantees and Hong Kong Government participation has been decided. It would therefore be no good giving a financial decision almost at the end of August.

Wo have heard nothing about the progress being made towards arriving at a decision here. Time is already getting short and I wonder if you or the Commonwealth Office would be prepared to call a meeting to try and obtain an early decision acceptable to all the Departments concerned,

I am copying this letter to Hall (in Carter's absence) in the Commonwealth office and also to Lucas and Wright in the Treasury, Mason and Bolland in the Foreign Office, Ford (DSA), 8piero (Bank of England) and R.L. Davies here in the Board of Trade.

1

X. W. Cotterill, Esq.,

Axport Credits Guarantee Department,

Barrington House,

59/67 Gresham Street,

London, K.0.2.

LAST

REX)

(M. 8. Morris)