CONFIDENTIAL
a)
aviation fuel
b)
imports of aviation fuel started
only in 1975 when China claimed a mere 0.6% of
all Hong Kong's imports of the fuel. By 1977 China's
share had increased to 20% and by 1978 to 25%.
kerosene from a share of 17.2% in 1974, Chinese
supplies have risen to steady at about 40%.
c)
gas oil
China supplied 21.2% of Hong Kong's imports
of gas oil in 1974 and the proportion has risen
considerably to 47% in 1977 and 64% in 1978.
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d) diesel fuel
imports of diesel fuel have fluctuated a
good deal since the fuel was first imported from China
in 1975. In that year China supplied.72% of imports, 34.
in 1976, 29.7% in 1977 and 61% in 1978.
e)
fuel oil
although imports from China have increased
nearly six-fold in absolute terms.
127 Coal.
Both China Light and Power Company Limited (CLP)
and Hong Kong Electric Company are seeking to purchase coal from
China and there are indications that they will meet with success.
Since their equipment is dual fired and as other sources of coal
are readily available (particularly from Australia) such purchases
would not make Hong Kong's economy indirectly dependent on China
for power.
Rather, the deal would represent a form of compensatory
trading, since CLP has already signed (16 January 1979) a draft
agreement with the Guangdong Electricity Industry Bureau for bulk
electricity transmission to the Chinese power network at Shenzhen
(Shun Chun).
/Hong Kong
CONFID
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