TNAG-0369-FCO40-415-Visit-of-Edward-Heath--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--12-1-1974 — Page 161

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in the same way as the UK. Shaikh Yamani

agreed to look into the matter and see

whether Saudi Arabia could help with

direct supplies. Without waiting for

Sheikh Yamani's return to Saudi Arabia

HM Ambassador in Jedda gave the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs on 4 December figures

provided by the Governor of Hong Kong

showing that the shortfall in supplies from

from

the Singapore refineries in January is

likely to be about 3,400 tons of light

diesel oil a month and about 12,500 tons

of fuel oil. He asked the Saudis to consider

urgently increasing direct supplies of these

products to Hong Kong or making available

additional supplies of crude oil to the

Singapore refineries.

The Saudis have

undertaken to reply as quickly as possible.

Line to take

4. The effects of the Arab cutbacks of oil

exports are being felt in all oil importing

countries. The UK itself, though listed as

"friendly" and therefore exempted from the certain general cutbacks by some Arab producers, is

not insulated from the general shortage, We

have already announced a 10 per cent cutback

of allocated deliveries and further contingency.

plans are in reserve. Both the Prime Minister

and the Foreign Secretary raised the

question of Hong Kong's supplies specificall;

with the Arab Emissaries on 29 November,

/pointing

15. Neverte Jen

We were

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

glad to expand

by the govemma pica to intervene with the Dumbs on behalf of thing Kang.