TNAG-1060-FCO40-1310-Mass-Transit-Railway-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 72

AS FAR AS OTHER CONTRACTS FOR THE ISLAND LINE ARE CONCERNED, NO DOUBT YOU WILL USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SIR KEITH JOSEPH'S VISIT TO PRESS THE INTERESTS OF UK CONTRACTORS. YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THAT MR THOMPSON HAS CALLED A MEETING ON 25 SEPTEMBER OF ALL CONTRACTORS FOR CONTRACT 405, PROBABLY TO SEEK WAYS OF REDUCING THEIR PRICES WHICH ARE THOUGHT TO BE ABOVE HIS BUDGET LEVELS. IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER HE IS LIKELY TO PROPOSE MEANS OF REDUCING THEIR COSTS BY SIMPLIFYING HIS REQUIREMENT. THE UK METRO GROUP (BALFOUR BEATTY/MOWLEMS ETC) ARE REASONABLY HAPPY WITH THEIR OWN POSITION RELATIVE TO THE COMPETITION.

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