ZZ BTC HONG KONG
GR 190..
CYPHER CAT A
FM DTI 191338Z
AKSO
tere
24
TRED (2)
HIC
51
JAN 1978
PERK OFFICE
RE
INDEX
No
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FLASH BTC HONG KONG TELNO INDUS 23 OF 19 JANUARY POWER STATION PUBLICITY
QUESTIONS RAISED BY PRESS WERE GENERAL AND MAINLY RELATED TO SUBJECTS OF LITTLE CONCERN TO CLP/PEPCO EG JOB IMPLICATIONS: ANY ROLE FOR NEB: DRAX B: PRIME MINISTER'S INTEREST: WOULD HMG DO THIS AGAIN FOR OTHER CONTRACTS ETC.
2. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF INTEREST TO CLP/ESSO WERE:
I WERE CLP/ESSO OFFERED US DOLLARS OR STERLING OR SOME OTHER
CURRENCY? LIPPITT SAID THAT THE PROPOSALS OFFERED
US DOLLARS OR HONG KONG DOLLARS AND THAT CLP/ESSO HAD CHOSEN
US DOLLARS:
II DID MFA DIFFICULTIES RESULT IN ANY THREATS TO CANCEL
NEGOTIATIONS? NO:
111 HOW FAR HAVE TALKS GONE ON CHINESE COAL? NOT BEYOND A STATEMENT
OF WILLINGNESS TO CONSIDER POSSIBILITIES:
IV DID OTHER COUNTRIES TRY TO UNDER-CUT BRITISH PRICES? THEY
WERE NOT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO:
V WHAT WAS ESSO'S ROLE? AS 60 PERCENT SHAREHOLDERS THEY WERE
FULLY INVOLVED:
VI WILL A SIMILAR PACKAGE BE PUT IN FOR UNITS 3 AND 4? YES: VII WILL LONDON CLEARING BANKERS BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE SYNDICATE?
WE WOULD EXPECT SO:
VIII DID THE CONTRACT INCLUDE PROVISION FOR COST ESCALATION?
YES BUT THE DETAILS ARE OF COURSE COMMERCIALLY CONFIDENTIAL: IX WHO WILL DO WORK ON SITE? THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED MATTER
AND DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH CLP/ESSO ON THIS.
3. NO QUESTIONS AT ALL WERE ASKED ABOUT CEGB.
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