TNAG-0170-FCO40-206-British-Trade-Commissioner-1969 — Page 62

Our reference: Your reference:

6/6/5 HK 6/548/3

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"

Dear Sumiz

Telephone- 230176

Ar Stewart

Tra

-615-

1 May, 1969.

R&R

My conscience has been nagging me for some time that I have not sent you a news letter. However, it was only the receipt today of your news letter of 25th April, 1969 that finally prompted me to dig the file out of my safe. I was overwhelmed to discover that the last news letter I wrote to you was two whole months ago on 28 February, 1969.

2. The only reason for my lapse that I can plead is that the tunnel was the major subject of discussion between us, and during the whole of March and April the tunnel question was rushing along so fast that there was no time to summarise it in a news letter. Nevertheless I start with it.

Tunnel

3. I did not bother to copy to you many of my recent letters to E.C.G.D. about the tunnel. The reason was, of course, that they mainly concerned technical matters. I am, of course, gratified things now look very much brighter though I will not breathe easily until I see the signatures on a contract document. Rumours had been reaching me recently that John Cowperthwaite was intending to make trouble in the small print, even after the Letter of Intent, had been exchanged. I therefore called on him on 29 April, and I am happy to say that I was reassured by his relaxed demeanour. I reported accordingly to Cotterill of E.C.G.D.

4.

Thank you for your kind words about the tunnel negotiations.

45

I must confess that now the whole business seems to be approaching completion, I find it difficult to know what to do with my Saturday mornings. The tunnel always seemed to blow a gasket at the weekends, but I hope that is all over now.

W.S. Carter, Esq.,

Hong Kong Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

LAST

43

3)

NEXI

REF.

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRYN 1

- 7 MAY 1969

HKK 4/548/2

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.