TNAG-0637-FCO40-785-Supplies-of-electricity-for-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 152

HKK 164/1

CONFIDENTIAL

6 July 1977

D M March Esq

Senior British Trade Commissioner HONG KONG

HONG KONG POWER STATION PROJECT

(109);

REPED IN

RE

*.51

- 7 JUL1977

A

1༠ན

(HKK 16+))

Alistair MacDonald has sent me a copy of your letter of 27 June to Christopher Roberts about the "Chinese dimension" to the power station project.

2. I think I ought to remind you that we in HKGD are looking after the FCO's interest in the project, in consultation, of course, with FED and other departments as necessary. Čould I therefore ask you to send us copies of any correspondence you have with other departments? In saying this I am conscious that we did not copy to you the 15 letter that Donald Murray wrote to Teddy Youde in Peking

on 28 June (in reply to his letter of 2 June) about the twin questions of Chinese coal supplies for the new power station and the sale of British mining equipment to the Chinese. I am now enclosing copies of this correspondence.

3. Returning to your letter, I cannot say that I am surprised to learn that EXXON have heard that the Chinese would find it difficult at this stage to meet the CLP's requirements for coal. Peking anticipated that this might be the case in their telegram no. 24 of 11 May to Hong Kong, a copy of which I also enclose. Furthermore, a requirement of our 34 million tons in ten years' time must be seen as to give the Chinese a fright.

cc:

Samuel (FED)

Mr C W Roberts (CRE4, DOT) Mr A MacDonald (IC2, DOI) Mr A Paul (Peking)

CONFIDENTI AL

JA B Stewart

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