HOFO035/12
00:DT!
CO FCO
GPS 350
EN CLAIR
FM BTC HONG KONG 1218002
UNCLASSIFIED*
MMEDIATE
TH
Riza
1354
DTI
HKLOD TRED
FRI
зует
TO IMMEDIATE DTI TELMO ESBOT 87 OF 12 FEBRUARY AND TO FCO (FOR STUART HKIOD).
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FOR SPENCER (FPB) AND MISS LACKEY CRE 2 FROM ASTON.
LONDON BUILDING MISSION.
WITHDRAWAL OF EFFECTIVELY THE ONLY CONTRACTOR IN THE GROUP IS A SERIOUS SETBACK, IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT NOW TO ARGUE EVEN THAT THE GROUP IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE AND WILL REPORT TO THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. I FEAR THAT IT WILL
CAUSE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES, INDUSTRY HERE, AND PRESS TO HAVE INCREASED RESERVATIONS ABOUT MISSIONS QUOTE MUSCLE UNQUOTE. MOREOVER IT IS DIFFICULT TO ARGUE THAT THIS IS DUE SOLELY TO CURRENT CRISIS WHEN WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A MISSION TO LOOK AT OPPPORTTUNITIE
RISING OVER DEVELOPMENT PLANS STRETCHING OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS AT LEAST ARE WE TO IMPLY THAT WE EXPECT IT TO TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME TO GET OUT OF THE CRISIS? IF SO HOW ARE WE TO SQUARE THIS WITH THE PERSISTENT OFFICIAL LINE THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO OUR UTMOST TO PROMOTE TRADE?
*
I FULLY REALISE THE DIFFICULTY OF TRYING TO PERSUADE INDUSTRY TO GO AGAINST ITS OWN INSTINCT BUT GREATLY HOPE THAT A FURTHER EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO INCLUDE CUBITS OR SOME OTHER CONTRACTOR. IF THIS IS NOT DONE THEN I SUGGEST WE MUST CONSIDER :-
A) WHETHER IN CIRCUMSTANCES WE SHOULD POSTPONE THE WHOLE MISSION
FOR SAY THREE MONTHS OR
B) HOW TO PRESENT IT AS BEING REPRESENTATIVE OF CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS SUPPLIERS AND HOW TO EXPLAIN AWAY CUBITS' WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT
THROWING DOUBT OVER OUR FORWARD EXPORT CAPABILITY.
UNLESS THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE I SUGGEST THAT GEOFFREY HAMM BE ASKED WHETHER HE CAN HELP OVER THIS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR ELECTION PREOCCUPATIONS I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT SECRETARY OF STATE OR SIR GEOFFREY HOWE MIGHT BE ASKED WHETHER THEY COULD HELP IN VIEW OF THEIR PREVIOUS CLOSE INTEREST BUT ASSUME THIS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED
AND RULED OUT.
ASTON
NNNN
SENT AT 12/1841Z RD
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