TNAG-0207-FCO40-243-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 137

W(B)L 51-7433

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

Registry

DRAFT

LETTER

No. HKK 21/4

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

To:-

Type 1 +

From

*

>

XeXrXX

Confidential. Restxistedx XXKXieX

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Flag A

and there are

reports - how credible we do not yet- know - of American & Suiss offers

d)

The vital

because importance how our

view of

pourt of ensung mat, if

project does go ahead, it should do so as a British project,

a

Lord Brown,

Board of Tr

See

revvied

draff

Lord Shepherd

Telephone No. & Ext.

Department

Since our exchange of correspondence last month

been following with

I have continued to take a close interest

The dulcopurents

in the Hong Kong Cross Harbour Tunnel develop-

ments: I could hardly fail to do so when I

om the target of such a letter as the enclosed

from Kadoorie, which you may well have seen already. Incidentally, I have not replied to

so obviously interested a party.

very relieved

I am glad that, on reviewing the situation with ECGD, you have felt able to relax the terms

But I fear previously offered. Nevertheless, I realise

that it is still too soon to be sure of the

outcome of this matter. It is presumably no more inconceivable now than it was when you wrote your letter of 17 January that when the French do make up their minds they will, with whatever object, soften their terms; Indeed, I find myself sympathising with ECOD at a stage in the competition when their opponents have

not yet had to disclose their hand. But I

imagine this is no unusual experience for your Department.

Considerity

whether there.

I have

However, in these circumstances. I have

been casting around to see if there was anything further

hom here I could do without interference to assist

matters in the direction I am sure we all want.

It seems to me that there is one possibly- helpful move I could make, step I ought to take.

To ECGD I suppose the Hong Kong Government must be an interested party; I am almost sure I have seen it so described in one or other of

the papers our officials have been handling.

reasmable No doubt this is a right and proper attitude for your Department to take when the Hong Kong Government is expecting to take up its share in the equity.

But in this Office, of course,

CONFIDENT TAL

/ we stand