TNAG-0424-FCO40-470-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 41

HOFO023/28

0

GRPS 320

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 281152Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RIČAVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

S OCT 1973

NICK 21/4 zily

HONG KONG Creda 137 ww.Farry

1. Miss Welch

225

4. Db. V.

V. 341

2 Mr Cotterill ECGD 3. Mr. Start FCOME" HK TOD

C.3

PA

TO PRIORITY D TI TELNO CREDA CREDA 119 OF 28TH SEPTEMBER, 1973.

FOR WATSON (OPG) FROM ASTON.

M.T.S.

221) 1.

HIKIOD

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CREDA 137. IN THE EVENT HADDON-CAVE WAS

NOT AT LUNCH AND I HAVE NOT, THEREFORE,. SPOKEN AS IN YOUR PARA 2. MEANWHILE I HAVE SEEN MESSAGE FROM BRITISH GROUP TO LEVER FROM WHICH

IT APPEARS THAT DISCUSSIONS WITH ITALIANS HAVVVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE CIVIL CONSORTIUM. BRITISH GROUP WERE THEREFORE PROPOSING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO HADDON-CAVE WHICH TAKES THEM NO

FURTHER FORWARD THAN AT END OF LONDON DISCUSSIONS.

2. LEVER AFTER DISCUSSION WITH WEEDON AND MYSELF AND CONSULT-

ATION WITH CLAGUE - IS SENDING MESSAGE TO BRITISH GROUP STRONGLY

URGING A MORE FORTHCOMING LINE.

3*

SINCE POSITION RE-ITALIANS NOW SEEMS SO MUCH BACK IN THE MELTING

POT I PROPOSE TO TRY TO AVOID SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO ANY

OFFICIALS PENDING FURTHER CLARIFICATION. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD

KEEP ME INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTTS. IN PARTICULAR IT WOULD BE USEFUL

TO HAVE EARLY CLARIFICATION WHETHER WE ARE TALKING OF A MERGER

WITH THE ITALIANS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BRITISH CIVIL OR MERELY

AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THEM, IN LATTER CASE WILL BRITISH CIVIL'S

ATTITUDE BE ULTIMATE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR OF THE COMBINED

NEGOTIATING POSITION.

4.

INCIDENTALLY ITALIAN CONSUL GENERAL HAS TOLD ME THAT HE

HAS HEARD OF THE DISCUSSIONS, WHICH HE WELCOMES, AND ASKED TO EXCHANGE NOTES WITH ME IN DUE COURSE.

PRESENT.

ASTON

I AM HOLDING HIM OFF FOR THE

NNNN

SENT AT 12327/28 EJH