TNAG-0426-FCO40-472-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 39

CONFIDENTIAL

3-

Finally he said that if there should be any suggestion from any quarters in. London that the Steering Croup had been in any way unfair in the process of discussions so far they would have to refute it most vigourously. There had admitedly been some changing and development of the ground rules as the dis- cussions proceeded but this was inevitable because it was the first time that such a thing had been done. But no favours had been given to any side nor would they be.

fair

I thanked him for giving me this general explanation, repeated that the Anglo/ Italian Group had asked no more "favour" than that they be given breathin- space to produce what I was sure would have proven to be an attractive, and final realistic figure (he interjected that he realised that he might have got a better figure in due course this way) and said that even with this explanation I still remained surprised that the EXCO decision had gone the way it had. We parted amicably as he dashed off to another appointment.

Yours

Norm

↑ Aston

CONFIDENTIAL

Cc:

AC Stuart, HKIOD, FCO.

R Fell,

C G D, DRI.

Senior British Trade Commissioner

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