TNAG-0425-FCO40-471-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 142

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00 F C O

GRPS 158

CYPHER/CAT A

FM BTC HONG KONG 0709052

CONFIDENTIAL

PA

2

3.

TO IMMEDIATE D T I TELNO CREDA 138 OF 7TH NOVEMBER, 1973. INFO PRIORITY E.C.G.D. (FOR MISS LACKEY (CRE2)).

FOR GLAVES SMITH (OPG) FROM ASTON.

M.T.S.

I UNDERSTAND FROM WEEDON (INFORMED BY KLINE) THAT BRITISH GROUP AND ITALIANS HAVE REACHED A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT IN OURLINE, THAT IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY BOTH GOVERNMENTS, THAT A LETTER FOR CLAGUE TO INFORM HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS ON ITS WAY

VIA ME IN DIPLOMATIC BAG, AND SIMILAR LETTER IS BEING SENT TO ITALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL FOR HIM ALSO TO DELIVER TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

2. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION, ANY BACKGROUND GUIDANCE YOU CAN OFFER AND DATE OF DESPATCH OF BAG CONCERNED (SO THAT I CAN ENSURE QUICK PROCESSING HERE). IS THERE ANY FURTHER PERSONAL GUIDANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME ON PARAELLEL MOVES (EG PARA 2 YOF YOUR PERSONAL TELEGRAM MESSAGE OF 24 OCTOBER).

3. WE SHALL NEED TO GIVE THOUGHT TO LINE TO TAKE

HERE, IN LONDON AND IN ROME WHEN MERGER LEAKS TO PRESS - AS IS INEVITABLE PROBABLY SOONER THAN LATER. ANY IDEAS?

ASTON

NNNN

SENT AT 29222/07 EJH

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