TNAG-0425-FCO40-471-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 54

IMMEDIATE

XPHER CAT A

GRS 170

FM FCO 2319 107

DEDIP

SECRET

SECRET

(HKIOD)

12

DESKBY 243001Z

TO, IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 1206 OF 23 NOVEMBER 1973.

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR COVERNOR FROM SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND IDUSTRY. YOUR TELEGRAM TO FCO 1322 MASS TRANSIT.

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELPFUL ADVICE. MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH

·ADE ITETAN CROUP ARE MEETING IN LONDON TODAY AND EXPECT TO WORK UP THEIR PROPOSALS TO THE POINT AT WHICH A TEAM CAN COME TO HONG KONG ON WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS PRESENTATION OF THEM TO THE STEERING GROUP IN A FORM MUCH COULD PERSUADE THE GROUP TO KEEP THE ANGLO-ITALIAN CONSORTIUM IN THE COMPETITION. THE DUITISH GROUP HAVE PARTICULARLY VALUED YOUR HIDICATION THAT IT WOULD NOT MATTER IF THE PRICE WENT OVEN THE CEILING ON TPÊKE. VERE SOME PROVISION FOR ESCALATION ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS COULD BE COVERED BY ADJUSTING THE CASH FLOW, ASSUMING AH! ANGLO- ITALIAN TEAM COMES OUT NEXT WEEK WOULD THERE BE ANY ADVANTAGE AT YOUR END IF I SENT ROYCE WITH THEM? ROYCE HAS RECENTLY TAKEN OVER THE OVERSEAS FINANCE AND PLANNING DIVISION WHICH ACTS AS THE CO-ORDINATING POINT FOR OFFICIALS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

ND HATOD

HD TRED

PS TO MR ROYLE

PRIVATE SECRETARY SIR D VATSON

COPIES TO;

OPIES

PS TO MR WALKER

DTI

MR ROYCE

OVERSEAS MINANCE AND PLANNING DIVISION

DTI

MR YOUDE

SECRET