TNAG-2061-FCO40-2939-Vietnamese-boat-people-conditions-in-the-refugee-camps-in-Ho-1990 — Page 37

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE

32

023660

MOLIAN 5851

COMMERCIAL

IN CONFIDENCE

FM BTC HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 131

HKB 243 14.

OF 230945Z APRIL 90

INFO ROUTINE DTI

AY 1990

TAI A CHAU

Papas

DTI FOR LOVE OT2

FOR PAUL, HEAD OF HKD

31

YOUR TELNO 16 OF 6 FEBRUARY: TILDEN INDUSTRIES

1. AS YOU WILL BE AWARE FROM EARLIER CORRESPONDENCE, I ENTIRELY AGREE THAT BRITISH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ACCOMMODATING THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE SPENT ON EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FROM THE UK. INDEED I WOULD LIKE TO GO FURTHER AND MAKE THAT EITHER A REQUIREMENT OR A DECLARED OBJECTIVE WHEN THE GRANT IS MADE.

2.

SINCE RECEIPT OF YOUR TUR WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND WITH TILDEN, WHO HAVE A LOCAL OFFICE HERE. DECISIONS WERE HOWEVER DELAYED IN RESPECT OF NEW CONTRACTS BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY IN EXCO WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE NOT RESPONDED EARLIER TO YOUR TUR.

3

TILDEN'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, STEPHEN TILLEY, IS NOW HERE FOR DETAILED NEGOTIATIONS ON TAI A CHAU AND HAS TOLD US BE BELIEVES THEY ARE CLOSE TO A CONTRACT WORTH ABOUT PDS STG 2.5 MILLION. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR TENDER, MADE THROUGH SHUI ON, WAS THE LOWEST, ALTHOUGH ALSO THAT IT WAS ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL LIMIT. THEY ARE IN NEGOTIATION TO SEE WHETHER ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO REDUCE THE PRICE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE EXPECTING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THIS WEEK. TILDEN ARE CONFIDENT. WE HAVE ENSURED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE BRITISH INTEREST.

HEAP

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