Southern requires aircraft from 1995, and RR-powered B777s will only be available after May 1996, there is a strong chance that Cathay's intervention will result in RR gaining only part of the order, or none at all.
The line to take does not urge Cathay to reconsider, since they no doubt have sound reasons for urging China Southern to choose Boeing, although it does point up the risks involved to the UK's interests. However, since Airbus has accused the US Government of exerting political pressure on the Chinese to order the B777, and has asked partner governments to consider joint diplomatic action to counter this, the line to take makes clear that the UK may become involved in such a demarche if evidence of unfair political pressure emerges.
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