TNAG-0772-FCO40-976-Modernisation-and-electrification-of-the-Kowloon-Canton-Rail-1978 — Page 49

RESTRICTED

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH ·

Telephone 01-

233-5528

25

DC Wilson Esq

*

Government Secretariat

HONG KONG

HKK 173/2

RECEIVE

Your reference

"Our reference

Date 10 November 1978 RY NO. Si

GU10 72

Jean David,

INDEX

PA

REG

Action

HY

No

BRITISH RAIL MISSION TO CHINA

&N Thompson

13/11

1. It was most useful to have the information about this mission which you enclosed with your letter of 30 October. The last substantive paper we have on file is dated June. Through contacts at the Department of Transport we have been able to obtain, informally, the answers to the questions you raised. We understand that it was indeed the Chinese who made a formal request for British Rail to do a study, although they may have been led up to it a little. Nothing was said about either compatibility or a through train service although Transmark intend to cover the question of compatibility in their study and have already mentioned it as you are aware.

2. There was no indication of Chinese intention to use British equipment on the line, but Transmark think they stand a good chance of being commissioned to do the full study, which they are to make proposals for and for which they will charge. What they do up to that point will be free.

3. I hope that Transmark do succeed and that benefits for Hong Kong will flow from the modernisation of the line.

P.S. The attentiel

vy f

Year

Blois Hayward schoold who is

for

CC Hayward Far Eastern Department wi

saw these stething may is of inligt

with

Very

and Eurole.

cc:

E T Davies, Esq Peking

WE Quantrill Esq, HKGD

REBIR‡6TED