TNAG-0638-FCO40-786-Supplies-of-electricity-for-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 59

HOFO 031/23

PP D TI

GR 190

CYPHER CAT A

TQ+ Z DO T

NO DISTRIBUTION

Dues HK+GD

FED TRED (2)

K129

ころ

十

FM BTC HONG KONG 231140Z

CONFIDENTIAL·

TO PRIORITY D T I TELNO CREDA 283 OF 23 NOVEMBER 1977.

PERSONAL FOR LIPPITT.

MIPT: POWER STATION PROJECT.

WHEN I WAS DISCUSSING COAL SUPPLIES WITH CHINA WITH SIR LAWRENCE (MY CREDA 280), HE RAISED THE QUESTION OF PUBLICITY IN THE EVENT OF A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS. GIVEN THAT HE SETS

GREAT STORE BY THE PERSONAL INTEREST OF THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE PROJECT, HE IS ANXIOUS THAT THE PM SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO KNOW OF AN INTENTION TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT. HE IS ALREADY DRAFTING

A PERSONAL LETTER TO MR CALLAGHAN.

2. HE FEARS THAT THERE WILL ONLY BE 24 HOURS BEFORE THE NEWS

LEAKS AND WOULD PREFER TO HAVE CO-ORDINATED A PRESS RELEASE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF ANY TIMING FACTORS WHICH THE PM WOULD WISH

CONSIDERED. I OFFERED TO TRANSMIT HIS MESSAGE VIA OUR CHANNELS AND

SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD GIVE YOU ADVANCE WARNING OF HIS

INTENTIONS ON A PERSONAL BASIS.

3. I THINK HE IS FULLY PREPARED TO FALL IN WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS WHICH THE PM MIGHT WISH TO PUT FORWARD. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THESE READY IN ANTICIPATION OF A FAVOURABLE DECISION BY THE CLP/PEPCO BOARD.

MARCH

i

NNNN