TNAG-0766-FCO40-970-Supplies-of-electrical-power-for-Hong-Kong-Castle-Peak-power-1978 — Page 50

GR 155

CYPHER/CAT A

HKK.164/1

CONFIDENTIAL

INDEX

No

MAR 1978

HEMISTRY Action Taken

FM BTC HONG KONG 280953Z

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY PEKING TELNO.BTC 17 OF 28 FEBRUARY 78,

INFO D.O.T (CRE4), D.0.1 (MACDONALD, IC2), F.C.0.

See 56

15

MY TELNO.BTC 4 TO PEKING : CLP COAL PURCHASES FROM CHINA.

HIS

1. SIR LAWRENCE KADOORIE TELLS ME THAT HE HAS NOW BEEN INVITED TO PEKING FROM MAY 14 AND WILL TRAVEL DIRECTLY FROM GENEVA. VISIT WILL MAINLY BE TOURISTIC BUT HE WISHES TO PURSUE THE

QUESTION OF COAL PURCHASES.

4

2. A CLP TEAM WHICH RECENTLY VISITED AUSTRALIA WAS IMPRESSED BY THE READINESS TO SUPPLY COAL EVEN IN QUANTITIES AS SMALL AS 250,000 TONS. SIR LAWRENCE ESTIMATES THAT NEGOTIATIONS OVER PRICE AND QUALITY WILL TAKE AT LEAST THREE YEARS AND THEY MUST THEREFORE BEGIN BEFORE THE END OF 1978. HE IS NATURALLY RELUCTANT TO GIVE ANY COMMITMENT TO THE AUSTRALIANS BEFORE KNOWING THE REAL CHINESE INTENTIONS.

3. SIR LAWRENCE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS HIS VISIT WITH YOU.

HAVE PROVISIONALLY FIXED 1430 ON MARCH 10.

WE

MARCH

FILES

FED

TRED

HKJGD

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

copies то

CRE4 DOT

MR MACDONALD iC2 DOI

CONFIDENTIAL