TNAG-0564-FCO40-659-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 159

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RR HONG KONG

GR 200

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.:

15 APR 1975

TRED

7RD

3,

HRIOD

CYPHER/CAT A

FM DT I Ø81600Z

CONFIDENTIAL

TO ROUTINE BTC HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 68 OF 8 APRIL. FOR KINNEAR FROM FARRY

MASS TRANSIT

14/4

1. AT A MEETING WITH ROYCE TO-DAY SANSOME, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF METROPOLITAN CAMMELL REFERRED TO HIS COMPANY'S INTENTION TO MAKE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO SECURE CONTRACT E1 FOR RAILCARS (EMU'S) WHOSE VALUE COULD RUN TO OVER 30 MILLION POUNDS STERLING. 2. SANSOME ARRIVES IN HONG KONG AT 13.45 MONDAY 14 APRIL BY SWISSAIR FLIGHT SR 304 FOR A WEEK'S DISCUSSIONS ON MASS TRANSIT AND ONE OR TWO LESSER PROJECTS. WE HAVE STRONGLY ADVISED HIM TO DISCUSS POSITION WITH YOU BEFORE MEETING OTHERS. WE SUGGGEST YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM AT THE MADARIN WHERE HE WILL STAYING. ONE OF HIS CONCERNS IS WHETHER HE SHOULD APPOINT A LOCAL AGENT TO ACT ON THE M.T. SCHEME AND THE CHOICE OF ANY SUCH AGENT.

3. SANSOME IS AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE OF RIDELY AND OTHERS ON THE M.T.A. WHOM HE WILL BE MEETING AND BELIEVES THEY ARE WELL DISPOSED TOWARDS HIS COMPANY. HE WILL SEEK TO INFLUENCE THE DRAWING UP OF THE ROLLING STOCK CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS IN FAVOUR OF METCAM DESIGNS.

4. SANSOME HAS A PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT WITH G.E.C. THAT HIS COMPANY WOULD JOIN A G.E.C. LED CONSORTIUM IF G.E.C. DECIDED TO PUT AN M AND E PACKAGE TOGETHER BUT THIS AGREEMENT WOULD NOT EXCLUDE AN INDEPENENT METCAM BID FOR THE EMU'S ON METCAM' PARTICIPATION IN E.G. A EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM. SANSOME WILL REVIEW HIS COMPANY'S POSITION IN THE LIGHT OF HIS DISCUSSION IN HONG KONG.

DTI