مرا
*
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 2818222 OCT 80
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 977 OF 30 OCTOBER,
INFO PRIORITY JEDDA.
GLS iPh
FKK 162/1
НК
CONSEINAL.
فلل
YOUR TELNO. 1425 AND JEDDA TELNO. 775 PURCHASE OF SAUDI ARABIAN OIL BY HONG KONG.
33
YOF COPY
#sill
1. THERE ARE CLEARLY DIFFICULTIES IN WHAT YOU PROPOSE, AS EXPLAINED IN JEDDA TEL UNDER REF.
2. PARA. 2 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF SAYS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED FUEL OIL. WE ASSUME THAT THIS MEANS THAT YOU WISH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PARTICULARLY ATTRACTIVE OFFER RATHER THAN
THAT THERE ARE NO PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVES. YOU WILL APPRECIATE
THRT, IN VIEW OF SAUDI PROHIBITION OF DEALS THROUGH MIDDLE-MEN,
IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING TO H. M. G IF THE TRANSACTION WHICH YOU
PROPOSE WERE TO COME TO LIGHT, SINCE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR US
TO DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM SUCH A DEAL INVOLVING THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS
TO BUILD UP STRATEGIC STOCKS (E. G YOUR TELNO. 28 TO SINGAPORE
NOT REPEATED TO JEDDA) AND IT MAY BE THAT THE PROPOSED DEAL IS
VITAL TO THIS. COULD YOU ELABORATE ?
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see (39
45
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2. IT WOULD ALSO BE USEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER:
(A) YOU HAVE BEEN IN DIRECT TOUCH WITH PETROMIN IN VIEW OF
SAUDI ARABIA'S UNDERSTANDING ATTITUDE TOWARDS HONG KONG'S
SUPPLY PROBLEMS DURING THE 1973/74 CRISIS:
(B) YOU HAVE TRIED OTHER SOURCES OF FUEL OIL WHICH WOULD NOT
INVOLVE THE COMPLICATIONS OF DEALING THROUGH MIDDLE-MEN:
(O)C THE SITUATION IS IN FACT SUFFICIENTLY PRESSING AS TO JUSTIFY
THE RISKS INVOLVED.
4.
ONCE WE HAVE YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, WE SHALL GIVE
YOU A CONSIDERED REPLY.
CHARRINGTON
کے ور الدرس
HK:63 75D ENJ.SO
CONTIDENTIAL