TNAG-0766-FCO40-970-Supplies-of-electrical-power-for-Hong-Kong-Castle-Peak-power-1978 — Page 121

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

(E) SUB PARA 7. WE SUGGEST SUBSTITUTION OF 'CLP/ESSO WERE NOW CONSIDERING SOURCES OF COAL FOR THE NEW POSWER STATION. THEY

ESTIMATE THAT SOME THREE AND ONE HALF MILLION TONS PER YEAR

WILL ULTIMATELY BE REQUIRED. DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED WITH

POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS INCLUDING THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA'

COMMENT- THIS REMOVES THE IMPLICATION THAT THREE AND ONE HALF

TONS IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY.

(F) WE HOPE YOU WILL ADD REFERENCE TO TRADE OPPORTUNITIES. SEE PARA 3(D) OF MY INDUS 8.

3. QUESTION AND ANSWERS. (YOUR PARA 6)

(A) QUESTION 1.

WE THINK IT MORE TRUTHFUL TO SAY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER

MET SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE TWICE DURING 1977''.

(B) QUESTIONS 2, 3 AND 4. NO COMMENT.

(C) "QUESTION 5.-

WE SUGGEST SUBSTITUTION OF FOLLOWING ANSWER:-

''AS WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED, CLP/ESSO RECEIVED ENQUIRIES ABOUT

THE NEW POWER STATION FROM A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPLIERS. CLP/ESSO HAVE PURCHASED BRITISH EQUIPMENT BEFORE AND HAVE BEEN WELL SATISFIED WITH IT. THERE WERE, THEREFORE, OBVIOUS OPERATIONAL ADVANTAGES TO CONTINUING TO DO BUSINESS WITH HISTORICAL SUPPLIERS

PROVIDED THEY COULD MEET THE TEST OF PRICE COMPETITIVENESS.

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS HIRED BY CLP/ESSO COMMENTED THAT THE

PACKAGE WE PUT FORWARD WAS TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE AND COMMERCIALLY

COMPETITIVE.''

COMMENT THIS WORDING REMOVES EMOTIVE REFERENCE TO TRADITION

BUT ADMITS TO A FACTUAL HISTORY OF PURCHASE FROM THE UK. THE

ELIMINATION OF KEEN'' IN EXCHANGE FOR AN EXPRESSION OF

SATISFACTION WITH PAST PURCHASES SEEMS A MORE ACCURATE EXPRESSION

OF CLP'S MOTIVES AS WOULD BE UNDERSTOOD BY CRITICS.

(D) QUESTION 6.

WE SUGGEST SUBSTITUTION OF FOLLOWING ANSWER.

''IF ACCEPTED THEY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE NEW COMPANY BEING

FORMED BY CLP/ESSO TO MINIMISE THEIR FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK.

AFTER CONSIDERING BENEFITS AND COSTS, HOWEVER, CLP/ESSO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THIS PROPOSAL.''

COMMENT CLP CONSIDER THAT THIS TREATS THE ISSUE AS DECIDED AND

INDICATES THAT THE REASON FOR IT WAS ECONOMIC. CLP WILL BE

RESPONSIBLE FOR ANWERING ANY QUESTIONS AS TO WHY THE DECISION WAS

TAKEN.

(E) QUESTION 7.

COAL FROM CHINA. SEE PARA 3(C) OF MY INDUS 8.

(F) WE SUGGEST A NEW QUESTION 8.

**HAS HMG CONSULTED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ?''

THEY NOVG, DIEN KERT, LEORMED OF DEVELOPMACAT LA

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.