GR 700
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM BTC HONG KONG 210945Z NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 147 OF 21 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE DTI (FOR BENJAMIN)
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
HKK 040/57
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 2 NOV 1334
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
109
FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT
PA
при
rober
YOUR TELNO 1430 AND OUR TELNO 135: PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT.
1. LORD KADOORIE ASKED TO SEE ME TODAY TO DISCUSS THE GUANGDONG
NUCLEAR PROJECT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. HE
WAS CONCERNED THAT MRS THATCHER SHOULD BE CORRECTLY BRIEFED FROM
CLP'S POINT OF VIEW AND THAT HE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO
HER DURING HER HONG KONG VISIT.
2+-ASSURED LORD KADOORIE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD BE MOST
CAREFULLY BRIEFED BY YOURSELVES AND THE DTI BUT ASKED WHETHER THERE
WAS ANY ADDITIONAL POINT HE WOULD WISH US TO MAKE. HE SAID THAT
THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW SERIOUS THE RIFT WITH
EXXON HAD BEEN AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THE WOUNDS
TO HEAL. A PARTICULARLY UNFORTUNATE EFFECT OF THE DISPUTE WAS
THAT THE CHINESE NOW BELIEVED THAT EXXON RAN CLP. I SUGGESTED THAT
WE MIGHT RECOMMEND TO LONDON THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SHOULD STRESS
CLP'S ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS HMG'S,
EMPHASISE THAT THE EXXON DISPUTE WAS NOW OVER AND THAT HENCEFORTH
IT WAS CLP NOT EXXON WHO WERE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROJECT AND WOULD
BE CALLING THE TUNE. KADOORIE AGREED THAT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
3. LORD KADOORIE SAID HE WAS VERY KEEN THAT THE PRIME MINISTER
SHOULD HAVE LUNCH AT CASTLE PEAK DURING HER VISIT TO HONG KONG.
I EXPLAINED THAT MRS THATCHER'S VISIT WOULD BE EXTREMELY BRIEF AND
THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DID NOT WISH ANY BRITISH COMMERCIAL INGREDIENT. KADOORIE STIFFENED AT THIS AND SAID THAT HE WOULD BE
DEEPLY OFFENDED IF, GIVEN CLP'S EXTENSIVE PURCHASES OF BRITISH
EQUIPMENT FOR CASTLE PEAK AND NOW ANTICIPATED FOR GUANGDONG
(ABOUT POINDS 1,500 MILLION), HIS CONTACT WITH HER IN HONG KONG WAS CONFINED TO A BRIEF WORD AT SOME SOCIAL OCCASION. CLP AND HE PERSONALLY HAD GONE THROUGH MUCH IN PURSUIT OF POLITICAL AS WELL
AS ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES WHICH THEY BELIEVED TO BE IN THE INTERESTS OF BRITAIN, HONG KONG AND CHINA. THEY HAD INCURRED THE BITTER
HOSTILITY OF THEIR PARTNER EXXON. HE CONSIDERED THAT THESE
SACRIFICES WERE NOT BEING APPRECIATED. TO BE COLD SHOULDERED DURING
THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT WOULD BE THE LAST STRAW.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.
J