BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE BOARD
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
1 VICTORIA STREET
LONDON SWIH OET
01-222 7877
T W Aston Eso CMG
Senior British Trade Commissioner British Trade Commission
HONG KONG
Jan Tom,
HONG KONG MASS TRANSIT
4 February 1974
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51
- 6 FEB 1974
NKK 21/2
In the
Thank you for keeping us so fully posted about the developments since the Executive Council decided to negotiate only with Mitsubishi. There is not much to add from this end though you should know that we did include a mention of the scheme in the briefs for Sir Geoffrey Howe and Mr Chataway, both of whom in the latter part of January had talks with Mr Nakasone of MITI. The recommendation was that if opportunity offered the potential interest of GEC in sub-contracts on the electrical and mechanical side should be mentioned. event the subject did not crop up in discussions with Japanese Ministers but was briefly mentioned to the Head of Mitsubishi, He is reported to have said that there were many problems, the .flating Yen had not improved matters but the Japanese consortium
intended to soldier on. No decisions had till then been taken on such questions as sub-contracts. The situation (at the end of last month) would shortly come up for discussion among the many members of the consortium.
The eyes of GEC-Elliott Automation have in recent weeks been fixed on the hope of securing a substantial contract for the electrifica- tion of railways in Taiwan. Hopes are still strong. We are also now looking towards Singapore where we have a rumour that a decision may shortly be taken on whether or not the singapore authorities will opt to solve their transport problems by means of a mass transit railway.
Interest in Hong Kong of course simmers and will do until and unless it is clear that there can be no pickings for British firms.
D N ROYCE
youn
كسك
几
cc Miss Lackey CRE2
Mr Cotterill CGD
Mr Stuart FCO. Ir Cloake FCO
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.