TNAG-0422-FCO40-468-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 115

CENFO 020/16

IMMEDIATE DESKBY 161130Z

ер

CYPHED

IMMIDIATÈ

FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG DATED 16 FEBRUARY 0820Z.

CONFIDENTIAL

CHRISTIAN TELEGRAM 41 OF 16 FEBRUARY

IMMEDIATE DESK BY 16/1130Z

TO:

RPTD:

E.C.G.D.

D.T.1. FOR WATSON (0.P.G.) AND MISS WELCH (C.R.E.) AND TO F.C.O. FOR STUART (H.K.1.0.D.) AND FINLAYSON (E.P.D.)

FOR FELL (E.C.G.D.) FROM ASTON

MY TELEGRAM ESBOT 7

1.

FOLLOWING COMMENTS AND APPRAISAL HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH

WEEDON WHO CONCURS. THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH CLAGUE AND THIS IS UNLIKELY BEFORE MONDAY AT FARLIEST.

PA

2 26/51

TIMING

2. THE INVITATION TO FURTHER CONSULTATIONS IN HONG KONG EARLY IN MARCH IS A SURPRISE IN VIEW OF HADDON-CAVE'S FORECAST OF TIMETABLE AS IN PARAGRAPH 6 OF MY CHRISTIAN 38, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY SUBSEQUENT INDICATIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF GROWING REAL ISATION WITHIN STEERING GROUP THAT TIME IS FAST RUNNING OUT TO MEET JANUARY 74 DEADLINE. THIS STILL SEEMS TO BE THE TARGET AND CONSORTIA WILL BE PRESSED

TO MAKE UP THE TIME THAT THE STEERING GROUP HAVE LOST ON

THEIR ORIGINAL TIMETABLE. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE UNWISF TO ASSUME

THAT WE CAN GET THE TIMETABLE STRETCHED OUT.

13.