TNAG-0207-FCO40-243-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 72

1100

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TO

TELEGRAM NO. EXCED 068

CONFIDENTIAL

104

EXPORT CREDITS GUARANTEE DEPARTMENT

29 MARCH 1969.

TELEGRAM EXCED 68 OF 29 MARCH.

FOR COTTERILL FROM HANNAM: TUNNEL.

MY TELEGRAM 256 TO CARTER.

COWPERTHWAITE TOLD ME THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) THAT HE HAD RECEIVED AGREEMENT FROM LONDON TO PUBLISH HIS STATEMENT, AND HE INTENDS TO DESPATCH THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL REPLY TO THE TUNNEL COMPANY AT THE SAME TIME AS THE STATEMENT IS PUBLISHED.

2. UNFORTUNATELY THIS WILL HAPPEN LATE ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND MONDAY MARCH 31 IS A BANK HOLIDAY HERE. COMMUNICATIONS WILL THEREFORE

BE DIFFICULT.

3. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I HAVE AGREED WITH THE TUNNEL COMPANY THAT IF THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO DESPATCH TO ME THEIR OFFICIAL REQUEST TO RE-OPEN NEGOTIATIONS, THEN THEY WILL AT THE SAME TIME GIVE A PHOTOCOPY TO ROBARTS OF COSTAINS WHO LEAVES TONIGHT FOR LONDON. HE

HAS AGREED TO SEND IT TO YOU ON MONDAY MARCH 31 MORNING.

4. I WILL TELEGRAPH AGAIN ON APRIL 1.

SIR D. TRENCH

LAST

REF.

100

EXCED DISTRIBUTION

HONG KONG DEPT.

NEXT

REF

110

ཀ ་

NNNNN

CONFIDENTIAL