TNAG-1662-FCO40-2310-Hong-Kong-Western-Harbour-Lantau-Strategic-Development-proje-1987 — Page 25

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ENCOURAGED. FIRST, ILIFFE HAD TALKED OF MRS WOO HAVING ACCESS

TO US DLRS 50M OF 'SOFT' MONEY BUT HE DID NOT KNOW THE PRECISE

TERMS, ONLY THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE AT 4-5 PERCENT FOR BRITISH GOODS.

IT NOW APPEARS (AS GLEANED FROM KITLEY, ILIFFE'S BOSS) THAT THE

MONEY MAY BE SOFT FRENCH FUNDS AND, THEREFORE, HARDLY AVAILABLE

FOR BRITISH EXPORTS. SECOND, PLESSEY, THOUGH WILLING TO ATTEND

THE FIRST MEETING OF THE 'GROUP' WOULD RATHER GO THEIR OWN

WAY AND MAY SOON LEAVE ALTOGETHER. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE WOO

MILLIONS UK COMPANIES MAY TURN INSTEAD TO ATP SO WE MAY BE

FACED WITH TWO SEPARATE UK APPROACHES. PLESSEY KNOW THAT WE

WOULD PREFER A UNIFIED APPROACH BUT I FEAR THAT WE SHALL NOT BE

ABLE TO STOP THEM AND WE MAY BE CONFRONTED WITH THE PROSPECT

OF UK COMPANIES TRIPPING OVER EACH OTHER.

HOWE

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