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advantages. Some British firms had managed to win important contracts there, but many others had been disappointed. The British share of total Hong Kong imports was very small. Secondly, the allegations made by Hawker-Siddeley (Canada) were clearly based on nothing more than rumours. Hong Kong was always full of rumours. The idea that the Hong Kong Government had gone to international tender merely as a cover was ridiculous. And the suggestion that the Governor might have been instructed to award the contract to a British firm displayed a lack of knowledge of the relationship between the British and Hong Kong Governments. Finally, the departments concerned in London had no doubt given Metcam every assistance within the rules. It was entirely legitimate that they should do so: we needed to win as much business as we could in Hong Kong, as in other overseas markets.
5. That said, I undertook to pass on Howard's representations to you. I did not make any commitment to give him a more detailed reply, nor did he ask for one.
6. I am sending copies of this letter to those concerned in Whitehall.
Yours ever,
Розі
R J T McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
сс
Mr Murray
Mr Burges-Watson, TRED
Mr D N Royce, ED Division, DOT
Mr J Lippitt, Deputy Secretary, DOI
CONFIDENTIAL
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