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Mr DN Royce
Department of Trade & Industry
On the Hong Kong front I wish to thank you for sending me a copy of the written reply to Mr N J Spearing by Anthony Royle of the FCO.
Now that the Prime Minister has cancelled his trip to China and Hong Kong, and therefore will not be in a position to mention continued British interest in supplying equipment for the Mass Transit Railway, is there any way in which you can help us? As you know, according to the view of the Mass Transit Steering Group, the best mechanical and electrical engineering proposals were put forward by the British Group, and therefore there would be a technical justification for having British equipment included in the Japanese supplies as well as, of course, commercial ones because of the weakness of the £. We were made to understand that on the mechanical and electrical equipment proposals al four competing Groups were within the same order of magnitude in cost and were less than 10% apart, therefore it can be stated that the British mechanical and electrical equipment is certainly competitive on the international market.
From the point of view of the future of British mass transit engineering exports, the supply of equipment for the special coaches needed for tropical and subtropical environments and signalling, and centralised control systems, are of the greatest importance.
I advised you that we are in close touch with the Mass Transit Study Group of Sin gapore who are following the progress of the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway very closely. During my last visit to Singapore I discussed our interest in the Mass Transit Railway there and spoke to Mr Fielding and Mr Stansfield at the High Commission. Whilst I maintain as close a contact as possible through the GEC Singapore Office, there could be some advantage if our actions vis-a-vis the Singapore project could be planned carefully, taking into account the adverse affects the Hong Kong decision may have had and making certain that Britain's expertise receives maximum acknowledgement. Your advice on this latter point would be appreciated.
If there is anything further that you could help us with, in particular in Taiwan, I will be grateful.
Your sincerly приству Hany
H A Codd
Deputy Chairman
Encl
B.
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