TNAG-0855-FCO40-1065-Construction-of-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 171

3.

I THINK WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON WINNING CONTRACT 31 (TRAINS) BY ALLOCATING ANY FUNDS AVAILABLE TO METCAM'S BIND

REGARDING ANY OTHER AWARDS AS WELCOME BONUSES. THIS WILL OF COURSE BE UNWELCOME TO DRAKE AND SCULL (YOUR INDUS 19) BUT WHATEVER THEIR PRICE THEY WILL HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY IN DISLODGING THE JAPANESE FROM CONTRACT 363 AS HMT ARE THE SITTING TENANTS. APART FROM HMT,

THEIR COMPETITORS ARE AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPANY AND ANOTHER

JAPANESE FIRM: GEC HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.

4. SANSOME HAS BEEN TOLD BY THOMPSON THAT THE VALUE OF THE INTEREST

FOREGONE BY THE JAPANESE IS BETWEEN HK DOLLARS 40-45 MILLION, HE

HAS COMPLAINED TO THOMPSON THAT THE JAPANESE OFFER REPRESENTS A REDUCTION IN PRICE AND OUGHT NOT TO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BUT RECOGNES THAT WAYS WILL HAVE TO BE FOUND TO MATCH IT IF HE IS TO STAY IN TIE RACE. HE IS ADAMANT THAT METCAM CAN FIND NO MORE AND WONDERS WHETEHER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT CAN HELP.

5. THE PROBLEM ESSENTIALLY IS TO FIND THE DOLLARS 42 MILLION QUOTED

TO ME. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT THIS KIND OF MONEY IS AVAILABLE, I AM SURE THAT THE MTRC WILL ADVISE ME ON THE MECHANICS OF INCORPORATING IT INTO THE METCAM PACKAGE. I MUST AGAIN STRESS THE DELICACY OF MY INFORMATION AND THE NEED FOR AN EARLY DECISION

ON THE PRINCIPLE.

бо

I SHALL ELABORATE ON THE TELEPHONE TO LIPPITT.

MARCH

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