/FO 043/19
MIR 173/1
14 SEP 1981
Mr.
(THON BALORE
NOT DISTRIBUTION.
PP DO T
RECEIVED IN HAIRY
GRS 375
DESK OFFICER
PSUÍRTAY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
Mars
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG 100945Z SEPTEMBER 81
TO PRIORITY DO T'
TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 221 OF 10 SEPTEMBER
FOR BENJAMIN, PEP DIVISION
ENT
Days: K/25 Popis: HIGD
TRED (2x)
MY CREDA 213 OF 7 SEPTEMBER AND TELELETTER OF 27 AUGUST
TO DURIE: MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY
FOLLOWING HIS RETURN NORMAN THOMPSON HAS CLEARLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE TIMESCALE FOR BOARD DECISIONS ON THE
PLACEMENT OF CONTRACTS FOR THE ISLAND LINE. HE HAS TOLD ME IN STRICT CONFIDENCE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO AGREE TERMS OF
A NEGOTIATED CONTRACT WITH MET-CAM FOR ADDITIONAL
38
ROLLING STOCK BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER IN ORDER THAT HE CAN SEEK
BOARD APPROVAL BEFORE WRANGLING BEGINS ON THE MAIN CIVIL
ENGINEERING CONTRACTS. I SUSPECT THAT HE ALSO HAS IN MIND THE
PRESENT LOW VALUE OF STERLING AS AN ADDITIONAL FACTOR IN
FAVOUR OF AN EARLY CONCLUSION OF A DEAL WITH SANSOME.
2. LAZARDS TELL ME THAT MET-CAM (RONAN) WILL RETURN HERE NEXT WEEK FOR FURTHER FINANCIAL TALKS WITH THE MTR AND HE
MAY THEREFORE NEED A DECISION ON HMG'S ABILITY TO ASSIST WITH
EXCHANGE PROBLEM A LITTLE EARLIER THAN I INDICATED IN MY
CREDA 213.
NT
3. THOMPSON SEEMS KEEN ON A QUICK DEAL. I HAVE TOLD HIM THAT YOU
HAD BEEN TALKING IN TERMS OF A FORTNIGHT FROM SEPTEMBER 5- (YOUR CREDA 172) BUT AS HE IS SCHEDULED TO HAVE A PRIVATE DISCUSSION
WITH SIR KEITH JOSEPH ON SEPTEMBER 23, HE WILL THEN EXPECT AN INDICATION OF OUR THINKING.
MARCH
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