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9) CHINA'S BELIEF THAT HONG KONG CAN AND DOES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN THEIR FOUR MODERNIZATIONS PROGRAMME, AND
THAT IT IS VERY MUCH IN THEIR INTERESTS TO PRESERVE THE STATUS QUO OF HONG KONG FOR A PERIOD BEYOND 1997, HAS BECOME OF GREATER IMPORTANCE BOTH TO THE PRC AND, IN MY OPINION, ALSO TO THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT, THAN THE EARLIER CONCEPT OF A PROJECT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN GUANGDONG TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO HONG KONG AND CHINA.
10) MY COMMENTS HAVE SO FAR DEALT ONLY WITH THE HISTORIC AND
POLITICAL ASPECTS. IT MUST, HOWEVER, BE OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE
VERY SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO BE GAINED BY U.K. INDUSTRY AND U.K.
INTERESTS.
11) FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE U.K. GOVERNMENT, SOME OF THESE-
BENEFITS ARE:
1) A DEMONSTRATION OF THE EXPERTISE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNITED
KINGDOM IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: 1) EARLY EXPERIENCE WITH PWR DESIGN AND OPERATION PRIOR TO COMMISSIONING THE U.K.'S FIRST PWR IN THE EARLY 1990'S: 111) A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ESTABLISH BRITAIN'S PREMIER
POSITION AS A CHINA TRADER BY CEMENTING UK/CHINA RELATIONS. IV) CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT IN BRITISH INDUSTRY.
12) TO END ON A COMMERCIAL NOTE, IT IS PLEASING THAT FINANCIAL STUDIES ALREADY SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY SHOW THE
PROJECT TO BE VERY PROFITABLE.
ENDS.
MARCH
FILES
JNU
HK & GD
FED
TRED
MR PH MOBERLY
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
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