TNAG-0508-FCO40-573-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 152

MMEDIATE

OLLOWING RECEIVED FROM HONG KONG DATED 15 FEB 74

CONFIDENTIAL

5

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

14 MAR 1974

CONFIDENTIAL

TO

.T.1. FOR ROYCE (0.P.G.) FROM ASTON

(HKK 21/2

w/37

REPEATED

F.C.0. FOR STUART (H.K.1.0.D.)

D.T.1. PLEASE PASS TO MI S3 LACKEY (C.R.E.2) AND FELL (E.C.G.D.)

MASS TRANSIT SCHEME

1.

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT LETTER OF INTENT WITH JAPANESE WILL BE SIGNED TODAY (15 FEBRUARY). ANNOUNCEMENT SAID THAT FIVE MEETINGS HAD BEEN HELD WITH JAPANESE REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT LETTER OF INTENT MAKES CLEAR THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS AND ESTABLISHES THE

2 "

/TERMS

PAGE TWO

TERMS UNDER WHICH A FORMAL CONTRACT CAN BE SIGNED''. IT 13 UNDERSTOOD THAT NEGOTIATIONS TO CONTRACT ARE LIKELY TO START

ACCORDING WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE MONTHS. TO CONSORTIUM SOURCE MOST OF THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WILL DEAL WITH THE TECHNICAL ISSUES INCLUDING DETAILS OF DESIGN.