TNAG-0855-FCO40-1065-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 139

CONFIDENTIAL

HICK MS

GR 120

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 311958Z JAN 79

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 95 OF 31 JANUARY 1979

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PUS

TME

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 150; MTR ROLLING STOCK ·

IN

No

Action 1

27

1. MANY THANKS FOR THIS TIMELY WARNING.

2. YOU WILL HAVE HEARD FROM DEREK MARCH THAT WAYS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BRING METCAM'S PRICE DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE JAPANESE BID.

WE GAVE OUR FULL BACKING BUT THE CREDIT IS DUE TO THOSE CONCERNED IN ECGD AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE. I HOPE THAT THEIR EFFORTS WILL BE REPAID ON 5 FEBRUARY, WHEN I UNDERSTAND THE MTR BOARD'S DECISION IS DUE TO BE ANNOUNCED.

3. THE METHODS USED TO REDUCE THE BRITISH BID ARE UNORTHODOX TO SAY THE LEAST. MARCH WILL HAVE TOLD YOU HOW ANXIOUS EVERYONEV HERE IS THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE DETAILS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO THOSE WHO REALLY NEED TO KNOW. IT IS OF COURSE VITAL TO AVOID ANY LEAK TO THE JAPANESE.

OWEN

FILES

HK & GD (6)

TRED

FED

PS

COPIES TO

MR D N ROYCE DOT

MR J LIPPITT

DOI

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS FS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY

MR M STEPHENS ECGD

CONFIDENTIAL