OCMIAN 9871
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
1417152 JUL
GRS 208
HEC. 166/1 AOS JO1
CONFIDENTIAL JUL 1986
CA
F49871 - 1
QA
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1447
OF 1417152 JULY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PE
f261
YOUR TELNO 2258: DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT
1.
THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT THIS. AT MEETINGS OF THE JVC IN LONDON ON 14 JULY, ATTENDED BY DTI, IT EMERGED THAT THE CHINESE, WHILE PERHAPS FLEXIBLE ABOUT THE DATES OF SIGNATURE OF THE MAIN CONTRACTS, ARE VERY KEEN THAT AUTHORISATIONS TO PROCEED SHOULD BE GIVEN BY 7 OCTOBER. WE SHALL HAVE TO AVOID SAYING ANYTHING WHICH WOULD CAST DOUBT ON THIS.
2.
IF YOU THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL, AND THAT CONFIDENTIALITY CAN BE MAINTAINED, WE WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR SAYING PRIVATELY TO LEGCO MEMBERS BEFORE THE DEBATE THAT SIGNATURE OF THE MAIN CONTRACTS IS NOT THE CRUCIAL STEP AS REGARDS THE TIMING OF THE PROJECT: THIS IS THE ISSUE OF AUTHORISATIONS TO PROCEED, WHICH TAKES PLACE AFTER ALL THE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN OBTAINED TO THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACTS: YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEST WHITEHALL ESTIMATE IS THAT THIS MAY WELL NOT HAPPEN UNTIL OCTOBER, BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CONTRACTS AND ASSOCIATED FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS: SINCE UMELCO APPARENTLY ENVISAGE COMPLETING THEIR VISITS WELL BEFORE THEN, REQUESTS THAT
THE CONTRACTS BE DELAYED RISK UNNECESSARY AWKWARDNESS WITH ALL
CONCERNED.
HOWE.
GUANGDONG
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fidential