GR 500
SECRET
SECRET
HKK 166|1
RECEIVED
•22
DESKBY 310938 Z
FM HONG KONG 300128Z MAR 80
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 466 OF 30 MARCH
PERSONAL FOR PUS FROM GOVERNOR
NUCLEAR POWER STATION
INDEX
•
1.4
A
Spike A Fr. Robert
TNU. I said
a) we fached the Govern
we wind like
THE CHINESE HAVE A PROJECT FOR A NUCLEAR POWER STATION NEAR HONG
KONG WHICH WOULD BE A F.W.R., TO BE MANAGED BY SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE'S FIRM. ITS OUTPUT WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN GUANGDONG
PROVINCE AND SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE'S SUPPLY SYSTEM IN HONG KONG,
AND PAID FOR IN PART BY REVENUE FROM HONG KONG. THIS PROJECT HAS GATHERED RAPID MOMENTUM AND A DEGREE OF CREDIBILITY. THE FRENCH
ARE VIGOROUSLY IN THE FIELD.
Cleased INL's doeft reply jelgram. A
REMR
2/4.
2. ON THE FACE OF IT THE FRENCH HAVE A LARGE LEAD, BECAUSE THEY
OPERATE P.W.R. STATIONS AND ARE GEARED TO MAKE THEM. BUT FOR TECHNICAL REASONS CONNECTED WITH SAFETY AND RELIABILITY WHICH WOULD REQUIRE RE-DESIGN OF CURRENT FRENCH MODELS, WE COULD STILL WIN - IF WE MOVE SUFFICIENTLY FAST AND DECISIVELY (SEE PARA 6).
-
3. IF WE DID WIN IT WOULD BE A COMMERCIAL COUP OF A HIGH ORDER WITH SUBSTANTIAL INDIRECT POLITICAL AND FURTHER COMMERCIAL
IMPLICATIONS. IF WE LOST THE AFFECT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL MINUS,
PARTICULARLY IF WE LOST THROUGH FAILURE TO SHOW WILLING IN THE
FACE OF APPARENT CHINESE URGENCY.
よ I seen
see what
then
put up Ji Pus
4. HONG KONG HAS STRONG LEVERAGE BECAUSE WE COULD KILL THE PROJECT'S
VIABILITY BY REFUSING A SUPPLY THAT WAS EITHER UNRELIABLE
CR NOT OF HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS (IF WITHIN DISASTER RANGE) (SEE PARA 2). BUT CRUDE APPLICATION OF THIS LEVERAGE WOULD NOT DO AND WE SHOULD TRY HARD TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE OF THE TECHNICAL
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF A BRITISH LED P.W.R. PROJECT IN WHICH THEERE
COULD BE VERY SUBSTANTIAL U.K. CONTENT.
5. DR. MARSHALL, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY,
HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS JUST CONCLUDED
AND UNDERSTANDS THE TECHNICAL SIDE. IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHEME TO HONG KONG, AND I THINK U.K., I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL
IF YOU COULD GET HOLD OF HIM AND HEAR HIS APPRAISAL. HE IS
RETURNING SHORTLY TO THE U.K.
6. BECAUSE OF PARA 4. THE IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENT IS TO BACK DR.
MARSHALL'S REQUESTS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF A FEW TECHNICAL STAFF
SECRET
/ TO PARTICIPATE
31/
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