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international tender. Orders will have to be placed by the end of this year to comply with CLP's generating programmes for the 1980s.
6. Sir Sidney Gordon, the Deputy Chairman of CLP, has been away and my only meeting with him was during my introductory call on Sir Lawrence. His yardstick is the price per unit
of installed capacity (see my tel CREDA8❤ of May per He
does not mind how HMG succeeds in producing a figure that will stand comparison with fair international quotations but has not lost sight of the fact that Sir Lawrence's plans stand or fall on this issue. I should perhaps record that the Governor reminded us that, in the event of the departure of Sir Lawrence from the scene (he is 73 ), Sir Sidney will become the key figure in Elly Kadoorie Enterprises. His vote is therefore vital.
7. I shall of course try to keep you informed of the views of these protagonists as we begin to produce our considered response. It is likely that you will get direct feed-back of their reactions to it from a variety of sources and my ain in writing is to give you a feel for their individual positions. I do not think that any of them are hostile to us but they range from an enthusiastic supporter of a British bid (Stones), through the realistic goodwill of Sir Sidney Gordon to the frankly sceptical approach of Howard Duncan. Chivvying them all along is Sir Lawrence who is clearly hoping that we shall produce an imaginative proposal that will carry the day for him but who is becoming increasingly aware that at the moment of truth it is the price of the power station that matters. I have striven to convince them that they should check with me if they get feed-backs from UK company sources which cast doubt on the sincerity of HMG's consideration of the opening which is available to us. I hope you will not hesitate to do likewise if you hear any reports in London which do not quite fit in with the picture which Alistair Macdonald will have presented and which I have now attempted to supplement. I hope shortly to receive the "Particulars of Plant and Special Requirements" promised by CLP as a guideline to those preparing our offer its delivery will give me a further opportunity to speak to Sir Lawrence.
G
Copied to: J B Stewart Esq
HKD FCO
CONFIDENTT AL
D M March
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