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MDHO 6917
PRODUCE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND WORKABLE SOLUTION. IT WAS RECOGNISED OF COURSE THAT MODIFICATIONS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AT THE DESIGN REFINEMENT STAGE: BUT THAT IS QUITE NORMAL AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THIS WAY TO REMEDY A NUMBER
OF PRACTICAL DEFICIENCIES THAT YOU AND WE HAVE IDENTIFIED. WE HERE ARE ALL AGREED THAT WE SHOULD NOW GO AHEAD WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO MINISTERS ON THE BASIS OF THE FARRELL DESIGN. THERE HAS BEEN NO DISSENTING VIEW FROM ANY OTHER QUARTER. THE VIEW OF SWIRES IN HONG KONG IS STRICTLY SPEAKING IMMATERIAL: BUT IN ANY EVENT OUR UNDERSTANDING, CONTRARY TO THE ASSERTION WHICH YOU HAVE MADE, IS THAT SWIRES SHARE OUR CONSENSUS VIEW.
4. AT DIFFERENT TIMES YOU HAVE RAISED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
POINTS OF DETAIL ABOUT THE FARRELL DESIGN. WE DID NOT FIND THE OBJECTIONS IN YOUR TELNO 166 ENTIRELY CLEAR, BUT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WE GAVE YOU A FULL EXPLANATION ON EACH POINT IN MY TUR AND YOU DID NOT RESPOND WITH ANY FURTHER QUERIES. WE HOPE
THAT THE ADDITIONAL POINTS WHICH YOU RAISED ORALLY AT YOUR
MEETING WITH WHITTLE WERE DEALT WITH TO YOUR SATISFACTION.
5. I DO NOT THINK WE CAN AFFORD FURTHER DELAY. WE NEED TO GET
ON TO THE NEXT STAGE, WHICH ONCE MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN A DECISION WILL INVOLVE MAKING KNOWN OUR CHOICE OF DESIGN AND
WORKING WITH FARRELLS TO REFINE THEIR PLANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR REQUIREMENTS. IF THERE ARE STILL DOUBTS IN YOUR MIND, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD SET THESE OUT CLEARLY AND CONCISELY IN A TELEGRAM TO REACH ME BY 9 JULY. NATURALLY WE
SHALL DO OUR BEST TO SET THESE TO REST. BUT IF THIS IS STILL
NOT POSSIBLE WE SHALL HAVE TO GO AHEAD QUICKLY WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO MINISTERS, ATTACHING A STATEMENT OF YOUR VIEW AND EXPLAINING THAT YOU ARE THE SOLE DISSENTING VOICE.
6. THE CHIEF CLERK HAS SEEN AND ENDORSES THIS TELEGRAM.
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