335
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FX B.T.C. HONG KONG 250745Z JAN
DESKEY 252900Z
HKK166/1
5 JAM
OFFS
(8)
NO.
1
RIMR
-No Rs
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 18 OF 25 JANUARY, 1980.
FOR CLIFT, HKGD FROM. MARCH,
YOUR TELNO 91 GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT.
1. I AM QUITE CONTENT WITH THE REVISION OF THE DOI PAPER IN YOUR TUR. HOWEVER, DAVID WILSON WHOM I HAVE CONSULTED INFORMALLY FEELS
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE THE FOLLOWING
AMENDMENTS INCORPORATED:
(A) LINE 4 INSERT ... THEREFORE NOT BE AN ENTIRELY NOVEL DEPARTURE
FOR THEM THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WISH TO BE OVER-DEPENDENT
ON CHINA FOR SUCH A KEY RESOURCE. THEY ARE AT PRESENT
EXAMINING WHAT PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY THEY
COULD SAFELY ACCEPT FROM CHINA. THEY SEE SOME ADVANTAGE IN
IN BROADENING THE BASE OF FUEL FROM WHICH THEIR ELECTRICITY
IS PRODUCED.
*
(D) PARA 3 - LINE 4 DELETE FROM ''ON BALANCE" TO "CLP??.
INSERT: ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN HK IS ENTIRELY IN THE HANDS
OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER THAT THEY
CAN ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF MK, AND ALSO MINIMISE ANY POSSIBLE RISK TO HK/GUANGDONG RELATIONS BY
CONTINUING TO ALLOW NEGOTIATIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY CLP WITHOUT DIRECT. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT. THEY ARE HOWEVER REEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH CLP ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS.
(C) PARA 3 - DELETE LAST SENTENCE AND INSERT
3
'ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY MORE FORTHRIGHT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE USE OF BRITISH EQUIPMENT A CONDITION OF HONG KONG'S PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM
GUANGDON. THEY CONSIDER THAT TO DO SO WOULD GO AGAINST THEIR FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY AND ULTIMATELY REBOUND IN DAMAGE TO THEIR ABILITY TO RE-EXPORT E.G. TO THE STATES.**
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 2. WILSON