RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM BTC HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY DTI
TELNO OTTER 155
OF 120935Z AUGUST 91
INFO PRIORITY FCO
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, MANILA, PEKING
86
174066
MDLIAN 2258
HKE 182/3.
FOR ADAMS, PEP.
GORDON WU AND PROJECTS.
SUMMARY
1. GORDON WU, ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST DYNAMIC AND ENTERPRISING ENTREPRENEURS, HAS PROJECTS IN PROSPECT TO A VALUE OF TENS OF BILLIONS OF U.S. DOLLARS. THEY CONTAIN SOME DRAMATIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRITISH COMPANIES WHICH WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
DETAIL
2. DURING A CALL ON GORDON WU OF HOPEWELL ON 7 AUGUST, AT WHICH STEWART ELLIOTT WAS ALSO PRESENT, HE DETAILED THE MAJOR PROJECTS WHICH HE IS PURSUING. ALL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRITISH SUPPLIERS AND CONTRACTORS. ALL BEAR FOLLOWING VERY CLOSELY BY COMPANIES, SINCE GORDON WU MOVES VERY QUICKLY ONCE HIS PROJECTS GET UNDER WAY. MOREOVER HE USUALLY REPAYS THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN AN EARLY INTEREST AND CONTINUING CONFIDENCE, AND PUSHES ASIDE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EARLY SCEPTICS.
(A) BANGKOK MASS TRANSIT PROJECT
3. GORDON WU IS NOW VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS PROJECT. HE HAS BEEN SUMMONED FOR TALKS WITH THE THAI AUTHORITIES ON 14 AUGUST AND HAS BEEN TOLD THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL ROUNDS. THE ARMY CHIEF AND SUPREME COMMANDER, GENERAL SUCINDA, HAS ALSO ASKED TO SEE HIM SEPARATELY. HE HAS BEEN ASKED FOR FURTHER PLANS FOR INTERFACING HIS SYSTEM WITH OTHER TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS. HE HAS DETAILED CHARTS AND PLANS WHICH HE WILL PRESENT AT NEXT WEEK'S
BANGKOK MEETINGS WHICH SEEK TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE BANGKOK RAILWAY COULD HAVE A CHEAPER FARE, HIGHER DENSITY AND HIGHER PROFITABILITY THAN THE SUCCESSFUL HONG KONG MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY. HE SAID EXPENDITURE ON ROLLING STOCK AND SIGNALLING WILL BE USD 1.5 BILLION. CIVIL WORKS EXPENDITURE WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME. EXPENDITURE ON SOFT-WARE WILL BE ABOUT USD 200 MILLION. MUCH OF THE CIVIL WORKS HOPEWELL WILL DO THEMSELVES, BUT THERE WILL BE
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