Restricted
4. LATER I TOOK GOVAN TO SEE MICHAEL SARGENT OF OVE ARUP.
SARGENT CONFIRMED THAT DR GREENWOOD OF COSTAINS WAS ALREADY
RECEIVING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FROM BRITISH COMPANIES. HE SAID
OVE ARUP WERE PLEASED THE DTI HAD AGREED TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE FINANCE FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES. THE MONEY WAS LESS IMPORTANT THAN DTI SUPPORT. HE SAID HIS COLLEAGUES IN LONDON WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHITEHALL WOULD BE ABLE TO INCLUENCE THE FINAL
DECISION ON WHETHER THE PROJECT SHOULD GO AHEAD. I WARNED HIM
THAT IT WOULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE FOR ANY SUCH SUGGESTION TO BE
MADE IN HONG KONG: IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONVINCE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. I SAID WU SEEMED CONFIDENT HE COULD DO SO BY BEING FLEXIBLE. FOR OUR PART WE WERE CONTINUING TO KEEP THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INFORMED OF OUR KEEN COMMERCIAL INTEREST (AS WE HAD DONE SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PROPOSAL) AND WE HAD TOLD THEM
ABOUT THE SUPPORT NOW OFFERED TO BRITISH CONSULTANTS.
5.
SARGENT WILL BE IN LONDON THIS WEEK AND CAN BE CONTACTED
THROUGH OVE ARUP.
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
HOLLOWAY
HMLNAN 8747
MINIM AL
нио
TRED
COPIES TO
OTI VICTORIA ST
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