GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 280900 Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 280805Z JULY 8Ø
TO IMMEDIATE F C C
TELEGRAM NUMBER 947 OF 28 JULY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
MY TELNO 941: GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT
HKK 16614
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO, 51 2 8 JUL 1980
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
PA
IR
REGISTRY
Action
akan
ON LEAVING KADOORIE SENT ME A COPY OF THE NOTES HE HAS PREPARED FOR HIS MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER. THE FULL TEXT IS IN BTC TELNO INDUS 145.
2. AS ANTICIPATED, KADOORIE INTENDS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT. UNDERSTANDABLY HE HOPES THAT HE IS ONTO SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE AFFECTING HONG KONG'S FUTURE. HE PROBABLY ALSO BELIEVES THAT EMPHASIS ON THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROJECT WILL HELP TO GET THE ASSISTANCE HE THINKS HE NEEDS FROM HMG AND THE H K GOVERNMENT
TO BRING IT TO FRUITION.
3. EARLIER TELEGRMS WILL HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE TOO SEE POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL SPIN-OFF FROM THE PROJECT
IN TERMS OF LONG TERM CROSS-BORDER CO-OPERATION AND
ALL THAT COULD IMPLY FOR ERODING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 1997 (ALTHOUGH IT COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ITSELF). BUT I AM LESS CONVINCED THAN KADOORIE THAT THE CHINESE, EITHER IN THE
CONCEPTION OF THE PROJECT OR NOW
I THINK THEIR PRIME OBJECTIVES ARE TO LEARN ABOUT CIVIL NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY AND TO INCREASE ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES. SITING THE PLANT NEAR HONG KONG GIVES THEM ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE MEANS OF PAYING FOR IT. THEY APPEAR TO BE ACCEPTING THE NEED FOR AGREED SALES AND AMORTISATION OF LOANS OVER A LONG PERIOD. WE MUST ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE APPRECIATED THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS. BUT WE CANNOT YET BE CERTAIN HOW CLEARLY NOR AT WHAT LEVEL THEY HAVE FOCUSSED
ON THIS ASPECT.
4. FCO PLEASE COPY TO DO, DOT AND D/EN.
CATER
FILES
HKED
F.ED.
INC.
TRED
не р. повекеу Me DONAEd
(ADVANCED AS REQUESTED)
Colres To
HONG KONG GOUT OFFICE
ADDL
LONDON
DISTRIBUITION
GUANG JONE NUCLEAR
CONFIDENTIAL
75,