TNAG-0207-FCO40-243-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 119

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

80

PRIORITY HONG KONG

TO EXPORT CREDITS GUARANTEE DEPARTMENT

TELEGRAM NO.EXCED 43

3 MARCH

1969

LAST

REF.

CONFIDENTIAL

FOR COTTERILL FROM HANNAM,

ALXI

Mer.

683

MY EXCED 41 CNOT TO ALL). ACCORDING TO COWPERTHWAITE THE

GOVERNOR'S REMARKS WERE MERELY INTENDED TO SERVE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT

DELAYS WERE NOT THE FAULT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

2. I ASKED TO SEE MARDEN ON MARCH 3 TO REVIEW PROGRESS. HE RECEIVED

ME WITH SCALES AND BROTHERS. I SAID THAT I HAD HAD A LOT OF COCKTAIL

PARTY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TUNNEL AND FELT IT WAS TIME FOR A LESS

INFORMAL REVIEW. I ENQUIRED WHETHER THE TUNNEL COMPANY HAD HAD

ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH E.C.G.D. SINCE MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY

TO CLAGUE, MARDEN SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER CONVERSATIONS

BUT WAS EVASIVE WHEN I ENQUIRED WHAT HAD BEEN THE PURPOSE OF

WARBURTON'S VISIT TO LONDON SUBSEQUENT TO HIS TALKS WITH TOMMILLS IN

CHICAGO.

3. I THEN ENQUIRED HOW MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY HAD BEEN RECEIVED

BY THE TUNNEL COMPANY BOARD, I WAS GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT KADOORIE

IS STILL EMOTIONALLY AGAINST THE BRITISH OFFER, BUT THAT HIS

FEELINGS ARE NOW COOLING DOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPANY HAD

NOW WRITTEN OFFICIALLY TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON THE LINES OF

THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF MY LETTER OF 14 FEBRUARY TO CLAGUE, THEY HAVE

NOT WRITTEN TO THE BANK, BUT MARDEN'S OPINION IS THAT THE BANK

WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S LEAD. THE GOVERNMENT

HAVE NOT YET REPLIED TO THE COMPANY.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.

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