TNAG-0207-FCO40-243-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 63

CYPHER/CAT A

PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO. EXCED 69

CONFIDENTIAL

TO EXPORT CREDITS GUARANTEE DEPARTMENT

1 APRIL 1969

CONFIDENTIAL

104.

FOR COTTERILL FROM HANNAM. TUNNEL. MY EXCED 68.

110

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DULY SENT THEIR OFFICIAL REPLY TO THE TUNNEL COMPANY ON MARCH 29. AT THE SAME TIME THEY ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE DETAILS OF WHICH ARE PRESUMABLY AVAILABLE TO YOU.

2. ON RECEIPT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY THE TUNNEL COMPANY WROTE FORMALLY TO ME PROPOSING THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH E.C.G.D. SHOULD BE RE-OPENED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO BE IN YOUR OFFICE ON MARCH 31. 3. THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AT THE TALKS IN LONDON WILL BE SCALES AND BROTHERS. THE FORMER IS ALREADY IN ENGLAND AND THE LATTER PREPARED TO TRAVEL AT 24 HOURS NOTICE, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE BRIEFED SELLERS OF THEIR LONDON OFFICE AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, BUT WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORM HIM OF THE DATE AND PLACE OF THE MEETINGS.

4.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PRESS RELEASE HAS AGAIN BROUGHT THIS MATTER INTO CONSIDERABLE PROMINENCE HERE AND THE TUNNEL COMPANY ARE UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE FROM THE PRESS. I HOPE THEREFORE YOU WILL FEEL ABLE TO PROPOSE THAT THE TALKS SHOULD BE OPENED IN LONDON EARLY NEXT WEEK, SAY ON THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 8.

SIR D. TRENCH

LAST

REF.

EXCED DISTRIBUTION

R..F.

HONG KONG DEPT.

AAAAA

104

CONFIDENTIAL