TNAG-0423-FCO40-469-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 191

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AKIOD.

TRY No. 51

CONFIDENTIAL.

Jakkrily

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO EXCED 23 OF 4 APRIL.

FOR ASTON FROM COGGINS MASS TRANSIT.

IMPRESSION GAINED FROM FORMAL MEETINGS WAS THAT STRONG EXCO OPPOSITION EXIST TO IDEA OF CONSORTIUM APPROACH AND THAT DEMONSTRATION CONSORTIUM PRICE WILL BE QUOTE CHEAP ENOUGH UNQUOTE IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OVERCOMING THIS. WE WONDER WHETHER TO DRAW ANY CONCLUSION FROM PERSISTENT REPORTS FINANCIAL SECRETARY WILL BE ON LEAVE WHEN FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF CONTRACTUAL APPROACH IS BEING SETTLED. HIS ABSENCE COULD INDICATE HE REGARDS DECISION AS FOREGONE CONCLUSION. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR READING OF SITUATION,

E.C.G.D.

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