TNAG-0170-FCO40-206-British-Trade-Commissioner-1969 — Page 130

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A. Stewart

CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG 7th Floor, Shell House, Queen's Road, Central, HONG Kong Mail Address: P.O. Box No. 528, Hong Kong Cable Address: “Uktrade Hongkong" Telephone- 230176

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INDIV.6/6/5

Dias Bann

22 January, 1969

Thank you for your letter HKK.6/548/3 of 10 January, which reached me on 18 January, having come by non- confidential bag.

2. At the outset may I say how much I appreciate this sort of briefing, which enables me to make intelligent noises in informed circles here, and much more important, enables me to gauge the nuances of many remarks which otherwise are unintelligent to me. You may rely on my discretion in the way I use the information you give me, and I hope my replies may do a little to give you a view of Hong Kong as seen from Pedder Street rather than the Secretariat. I do not feel it necessary to show your letters to my colleagues in the Trade Commission, so may I suggest you mark them "CONFIDENTIAL INDIV", when they will be filed in my safe.

Cross Harbour Tunnel

3. You will have seen from my telegram CREDA 4 of 18 January that E.C.G.D's. determination to let nobody see their cards has resulted in all those in the know here believing that E.C.G.D. are out to wreck the whole deal in a dog in the manger way. In fact, Lord Shepherd's fears as expressed in para. 5 of his letter to Lord Brown have been fully realised. It was surely naive for E.C.G.D. to

think that the French would keep quiet.

4. All this has now raised a dangerous head of emotional steam in Hong Kong. I hope I can be given some sort of official guidance soon as to what is going on.

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so much frightened about the loss of the tunnel contract. But I really begin to fear that what (in default of any guidance) appear to be the E.C.G.D's. wrecking tactics will cause Dick Lee, Lawrence Kadoorie, and Douggie Clague, et al to do a dog in the manger themselves and take it out on existing U.K. exports.

5. In my own view the anti-Whitehall feeling nowadays in senior business and Government circles here is quite as strong as it was at the time of devaluation. I was somewhat

W. S. Carter, Esq.,

Hong Kong Department,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

London. S.W.1.

CONFIDENTIAL

KEF. Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accurate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors or omis sions in that information and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the standing of any firms, companies, or individuals mentioned.

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