TNAG-0768-FCO40-972-Supplies-of-electrical-power-for-Hong-Kong-Castle-Peak-power-1978 — Page 81

D0 BTC HỒNG KONG

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HKK 16411

INDEX

PA

No

REGISTRY Action Twen

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 200100Z

FOR MARCH FROM THORNTON

TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG TEL NO INDUS 211 OF 19

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

SEPTEMBER,

1. WE HAVE AGAIN CONSULTED BEI ABOUT ENGINEERING SUPPORT, YOUR INDUS 128 AND TELEPHONE CONVERSATION TODAY.

FOLLOWING

2. BEI HAVE IDENTIFIED PEOPLE WHO WOULD MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOUR ENGINEERS UNDER SHINE SET OUT IN YOUR INDUS 106, AND WILL SPEAK TO CANDIDATES TOMORROW ABOUT WILLINGNESS TO COME OUT. THEY AND WOULD COME ON THREE MONTH SECONDMENTS, FOR SPEED OF POSTING, BEI HOPE THEY CAN BE OUT WELL INSIDE A MONTH. (FOR YOUR INFORMATION 1 HAVE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BEI TO GET SOME OF THEM OUT BEFORE THE UK TECHNICAL TEAM LEAVES).

3. IT IS PROBABLE THAT THESE ENGINEERS WOULD BE NEW FACES TO CLP, SINCE THE PEOPLE THEY KNOW ARE ENGAGED IN THE UK END OF BID APPRAISAL. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT UNTIL INDIVIDUALS HAVE AGREED TO GO WE CANNOT BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT TIMING, AND YOU MAY WISH TO WAIT ONE MORE DAY BEFORE APPROACHING CLP IN CASE I HAVE SOMETHING MORE POSITIVE TO REPORT TOMORROW, AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN,

4. YOU SHOULD BEAR IN MIND WHEN SPEAKING TO CLP THAT THE QUESTION OF PAYMENT FOR THESE STAFF HAS NOT YET BEEN PROPERLY SETTLED. WE HAD UNDERSTOOD CLP TO WANT THEM AS PART OF THE UK PACKAGE ON THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THIS IS FINE SO LONG AS (A) THE UK WINS THE CONTRACT AND (B) THE BEI PACKAGE IS ADOPTED NOT IN ITS PRESENT FORM BUT IN A FORM WHICH INCLUDES SUCH A QUOTE PROPPING-

UP UNQUOTE ELEMENT.

5. HOWEVER, IF WE DO NOT WIN THE CONTRACT BEI WILL LOOK TO THE DEPARTMENT OR CLP FOR RECOMPENSE FOR THIS WORK (AND HAVE BEEN REASSURED BY US THAT APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE), AND WE SHALL ALMOST CERTAINLY NEXT WEEK BE SEEKING CLP ASSURANCES ON

THIS AND INDEED ANY OTHER SUCH WORK UNDERTAKEN AHEAD OF CONTRACT.

SECONDLY, THE BEI PACKAGE DOES NOT AT PRESENT INCLUDE SUCH ASSISTANCE, AND TO DO SO WOULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES IN FINDING OFF-SETTING SAVINGS FROM THE CONSULTANCY WITHOUT DESTROYING

ITS BASIS. SO A STRAIGHTFORWARD REPAYMENT BASIS, WHICH BAKER OF BEI SAYS STONES HAVE OFFERED TO HIM, MAY IN THE END BE BEST.

6. THESE ARE OF COURSE MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK. WE AND BEI ARE WORKING ON GETTING THE PEOPLE OUT THERE FIRST, AND TALKING ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.

7. ON THE VISIT ITSELF, HAVELOCK WAS TODAY TOLD BY BALDWIN OF GEC SWITCHGEAR THAT WEEDON (GEC IN HONG KONG ) REPORTED BROOKS AND REID OF CLP AS BEING IGNORANT OF OUR VISIT ON 25TH, AS LATE AS YESTERDAY. WE HOPE NOT ONLY THAT CLP ARE IN FACT READY FOR US BUT THAT THEY WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO US WHEN WE DO ARRIVE (SEE MIFT REQUESTING ADVICE ON PROGRAMME). ANYTHING RESEMBLING A DRAFT AGENDA WOULD HELP ENORMOUSLY.

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