TNAG-0276-FCO40-312-Plans-for-construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-1970 — Page 82

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ready to help in any way I can to smooth the sometimes rather turbulent relations between Hong Kong and the E.C.G.D. If we could learn from the somewhat unfortunate experiences of the Cross Harbour Tunnel negotiations, we might be able to avoid some of the mistakes which we made then.

Finally I asked Shephard what he thought would be the timing of the next step. He replied that he did not anticipate any decision by Government before mid-1971 when they would go out to international tender. Meanwhile, I hope and expect that E.C.G.D. and the British firms concerned will actively study the question.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Michael Laird in Hong Kong Department of the F.c.o.

J.K.Blackwell

Senior British Trade Commissioner

JKB:jms

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