CONFIDENTIAL
Flag C
- 2 -
suppliers can manage. The DOI are not at this stage sure that they will be able to do enough to enable British suppliers to stand a chance of winning the contract with the CLP. Nevertheless, as I
have said, they are determined to do their best. They think it would be useful therefore if Sir Lawrence Kadoorie could be paid
as much Ministerial attention as possible, within reason, during
his visit.
}
5. I think that we should be guided by the DOI and it would be helpful if either the Secretary of State or another FCO Minister could find time to see Sir Lawrence Kadoorie. I have asked the DOI to let me have a copy of their brief, which has not yet been finalised, for Mr Williams' meeting with Sir Lawrence Kadoorie and if it is agreed that a Minister should see him I will let the appropriate Private Secretary have it. I think the main points to get across to Sir Lawrence Kadoorie will be those already made by the Governor in paragraph 2 of his telegram No 268. These are that there is a need to buttress the political connection between the UK and Hong Kong by strong commercial links and to stimulate British exports to Hong Kong in the interest of Hong Kong's own trade with the UK, ie to make it easier for HMG to resist pressures to impose restrictions on Hong Kong's imports. Considerations of this sort are known to have been taken into account when the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Authority last year awarded the bulk of the contracts for the construction of the new underground system in Hong Kong to British firms.
16.
I recommend that either the Secretary of State or another Minister should see Sir Lawrence Kadoorie. (I attach a biographical note from the "Hong Kong Directory", to which I should add that Sir Lawrence is 78 years old.)
29 March 1977
cc: PS/PUS
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts Mr Cortazzi
D. F. Meillon
D F Milton
Hong Kong Department
Mr Mellon (TRED G 3/1) Mr Egerton (Energy Dept G 85/1) Mr Samuel (FED K 255)
↓
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.