CONFIDENTIAL
58962
(D)
(E)
(F)
2.
BEEN MADE BY JVC SUGGESTING THAT CONTRACT SIGNATURE WILL
BE MID SEPTEMBER (DETAILS IN PARA 2 BELOW FOR USE IF
NECESSARY). THIS IS ENABLING THOSE CALLING FOR THE
URGENT RECALL OF LEGCO TO SAY THAT THIS IS NECESSARY IF
LEGCO'S VIEWS ARE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE
SIGNATURE TAKES PLACE.
WE THEREFORE NEED AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT THAT
SIGNATURE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER
OR THEREABOUTS. IDEALLY, THIS WOULD COME DIRECTLY FROM
THE PRC AUTHORITIES, BUT I WELL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU. WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE,
HOWEVER, FOR HKG TO TELL S L CHEN (ACTING SENIOR MEMBER
OF LEGCO), PRIOR TO 3 SEPTEMBER MEETING, THAT I HAD BEEN
TOLD BY A SENIOR PRC OFFICIAL THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
DO NOT NOW CONTEMPLATE SIGNATURE BEFORE THE END OF
SEPTEMBER, AND THAT CHEN, COULD SAY THIS ON 3 SEPTEMBER?
IT WOULD NATURALLY BE HELPFUL IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
AND JVC COULD TAKE SUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONFIRM THE
POSITION.
WE REMAIN OF COURSE ANXIOUS TO FINALISE THE OUTSTANDING
COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL POINTS SO THAT EVERYTHING IS
READY FOR CONTRACT SIGNATURE AND AUTHORISATION TO PROCEED
BEFORE 7 OCTOBER.
THE SCMP OF 25 AUGUST NOTED THAT QUOTE THE GNPJVC'S
GENERAL MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT CONTRACT SIGNATURE WAS LIKELY TO
BE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11 AND 20, WHICH CONTRADICTED A STATEMENT BY
MRS MARIA TAM UNQUOTE. ALSO, THE JVC HAVE JUST TELEXED GEC
URGING AN EARLY RESOLUTION OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND STATING
THEIR INTENTION TO SIGN THE GEC CONTRACT BETWEEN 15 AND 18
SEPTEMBER.
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