3. AS REGARDS THE OTHER FOINTS RAISED IN YOUR LETTER,
THE STEERING GROUP IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER OR NOT. THESE ARE MEANT TO BE REGARDED AS FORMING TOGETHER A COUNTER-BID FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEDURE REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF MY LETTER DATED 18TH OCTOBER, 1973. IF SO, I MUST POINT OUT THAT IN ORDER TO BE EVALUATED IN RELATION TO THE PRE-EMPTIVE BID, ANY COUNTER-(78£
PTI LONDONDGTERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS AND MUST BE RECEI@ ON OR BEFORE 2ND DECEMBER 1973. IT SEEMS TO THE STEERING
GROUP THAT NOT ONLY HAVE YOU NOT PUT FORWARD A COUNTER-BID IN... SPECIFIC TERNS, BUT ALSO YOU ARE NOT PREPARING TO DO SO FOR SOME MONTHS TO COME. YOU WILL APPRECIATE THAT THE STEERING GROUP IS OBLIGED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SCON AFTER 2ND DECEMBER NEXT. WHETHER THE PRE-EMPTIVE BID OR A COUNTER-B10, IF ANY IS RECEIVED, SHOULD BE ACCEPTED. THERE CANEBEION OF HE SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEDURE BEING
1.
FURTHER EXTENDED IN. SUCH A WAY AS TO ALLOW MORE IME FOR THOSE CONSORTIA WISHING TO PUT IN COUNTER-BIDS FOR THIS WOULD BE BREAKING FAITH WITH THE PRE-EMPTI VE BIDDER. 4.
THE STEERING GROUP WOULD BE VERY FILLING TO MEET ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ANGLO-ITALIAN GROUP WITH A VIEW TO CLARIFYING TE THIS IS NECESSARY, EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM A CONSORTIUM. WISHING TO SUBMIT A COUNTER-BID. IN CONSIDERING WHETHER YOU WISH TO TAKE UP THIS INVITATION YOU WILL NO DOUBT BEAR IN MIND THAT 2ND DECEMBER IS ONLY 13 DAYS AWAY.
UNQUOTE
A SIMILAR LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO THE ITALIAN CONSUL GENERAL.
B. SIR DOUGLAS ASKS ME NOW TO PASS YOU THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE.
START OF MESSAGE
SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER ABOVE, I HAVE BEEN TELEPHONED BY THE GOVERNOR INFORMING THAT THE 2. DECEMBER DEADLINE: IS FINAL AND MMOVABLE AND THAT IN HIS OPINION THE ONLY POSSIBILITY OF SUBMITTING A COUNTER BID WHICH WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF LEAVING US IN THE RACE WOULD BE QUOTE KINDERSLEY, WILTSHIRE, AND ANY OTHERS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF DRAAING UP AND SUBMITTING A BID BEFORE THE DEADLINE, TO COME TO HONGKONG
IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PRESENCE OF PICCAGLI WHO IS ARRIVING TONIGHT. SUCH A JOINT APPROACH WOULD HAVE THE FULL CO-OPERATION OF THE ONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THIS CAN BE REGARDED AS AN OFFICIAL INVITATION UNQUOTE. HAVING AD THIS PROPOSAL PUT TO ME I MENTIONED WE WERE ABOUT TO CONFER ON THE LETTER ABOVE AND CONTEMPLATED THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING TO LONDON. THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT IN HIS OPINION THIS APPROACH WAS USELESS BECAUSE OF THE TIME ELEMENT AND IMPLORED ME TO CONVINCE YOU ACCORDINGLY SO THAT THIS LAST OPPORTUNITY OF AN ACCEPTABLE COUNTER BID SHOULD UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE MISSED.
GRATEFUL YOU REACTIONS TUESDAY (20/11) A.M. QUR TIME
END OF MESSAGE
C. ASTON REQUESTS YOU INFORM ROYCE IN FULL ITEMS A AND B ABOVE
REGARDS WEEDON
ELLAUTO BORHMWD
HX3098 GECHONG
REGARDS J N SCOTT
DTI LONDON
ELLAUTO BORHMWD
SENT 1517 19.11.73 HN
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