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OVER 250 MILLION POUNDS, INCLUDES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN
AND MANUFACTURE OF THE CONVENTIONAL ISLAND INCLUDING THE TURBINE
GENERATORS: NORMAL, MEDIUM AND LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR, AND THE
MAIN TRANSFORMER PLATFORMS. THE CONTRACT ALSO INCLUDES
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE
NON-NUCLEAR PLANT. HOWEVER, THE UK'S INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT
GOES WIDER: WE RECOGNISE THE REAL CONCERN OF THE PEOPLE IN HONG
KONG ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE PLANT AND HAVE FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY
THE PUBLIC DEBATE IN HONG KONG. WE TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR GENERAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF HONG KONG AND ALTHOUGH THE PLANT
WILL BE BUILT TO A FRENCH DESIGN AND OPERATED BY THE CHINESE, THE
CONCERNS OF HONG KONG HAVE FEATURED PREDOMINANTLY IN OUR
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. WE KNOW FROM THEIR STATEMENTS THE
SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH THEY TAKE ALL SAFETY ASPECTS AND OF THEIR
RESOLVE TO ENSURE THE NECESSARY STANDARDS OF SAFETY.
CHINA IS A COAL BASED. ECONOMY SIMILAR TO THE UK WITH
RESERVES FORECAST TO LAST WELL INTO THE FUTURE. HER
MODERNISATION PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 150 MILLION
TONNES PER ANNUM BY 1990 LAYS MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
NEW MINES AND THE RECONSTITUTION OF EXISTING MINES. BRITAIN'S
EXPERIENCE IN COAL MINING GOES BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND WE HAVE
MUCH TO OFFER IN BOTH DEEP MINING CAPABILITIES AND OPEN CAST
MINING. BRITISH COAL HAS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN CONSULTANCY WORK ON
THE MODERNISATION OF MINES IN TANGSHAN AND BRITISH MINING
CONSULTANTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN JIMING II. FROM THESE AND
OTHER INITIATIVES IT IS HOPED GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE
COAL AUTHORITIES IN CHINA AND THE UK COAL MINING INDUSTRY CAN
DEVELOP.
ENSURING CONTINUITY OF OIL SUPPLY, PARTLY TO MEET
INCREASED DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION AND ALSO AS A VALUABLE EARNER OF
FOREIGN EXCHANGE, IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO CHINA'S REFORMATION
PROGRAMME. UNFORTUNATELY THE HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF CHINA'S
CONTINENTAL SHELF HAS SO FAR FAILED TO MEET EXPECTATIONS AND
UNDERSTANDABLY THERE IS MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE OIL INDUSTRY.
HOWEVER, IT WAS SOME TIME AFTER EXPLORATION STARTED IN THE NORTH
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