TNAG-0508-FCO40-573-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 183

RECEIV IN REGISTRY No. 51

Also on

21 JAN1974

HKK 6/598/1

#KK221/4

Mr Y

IN

Sir J. Tidney want too

Sov

one wa

way,

Mr Chataway

perhaps too far the other.

Maybe we are

now in balance

Aes

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THE BRITISH MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, MR. CHPIS CHATWAY, SAID HONG KONG'S DECISION ON THE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM. WILL NOT CREATE ANY PREJUDICE IN ERITIYE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE COLONY PARTICULARLY IN TRADE MATTERS.

HE WAS COMMENTING ON A STATEMENT BY SIR JOHN TILNEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE ANGLO-HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, THAT HONG KONG'S. CHANCE OF GETTING BETTER TREATMENT FROM THE EEC HAD DECLINED BECAUSE OF ITS CHOICE OF A JAPANESE CONSORTIUM TO BUILD THE TUBE INSTEAD OF A EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM WITH BRITISH BACKING.

MR. CHATAWAY EMPHASISED THAT BRITAIN WOULD PRESENT HONG KONG'S CASE VIGOROUSLY FOR PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE COMMON MARKET THIS YEAR SO THAT IT MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL SCHEME OF PREFETENCH IN 1975.

RE THOUGHT THAT SIR JOHN MIGHT HAVE VOICED THE OPINION OF SOME PAPL TAMENTARY BACK-BENCHERS.

MR.

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CHAT/WAY SAID THAT BRITAIN WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE DECISION ON THE TURE PUT BRITAIN EXPECTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO TAKE DECISION XN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

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+IF THE JAPANESE WERE TO DECIDE THAT IT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO OPERATE WITHIN A FIXED PRICE, THEN THE TWO CONSORTIA WITH BRITISH BACKING WOULD BE VERY EAGER TO RETURN TO THE CHARGE,+ HE ADDED.

ON MR. ANTHONY ROYLE'S RESIGNATION FROM THE FOREIGN OFFICE, MR. CHATAWAY SAID HE WAS CERTAIN THAT HIS DECISION TO RESIGN WAS PURELY +PERSONAL+ AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HONG KONG'S MASS TRAMSIT SYSTEM.

MR. CHATAWAY WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT KAI TAK AIRPORT BEFORE LEAVING FOR TOKYO AFTER A ONE-DAY PRIVATE VISIT TO HONG KONG.. == INFORMS HONG KONG REUTERS

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