TNAG-0769-FCO40-973-Supplies-of-electrical-power-for-Hong-Kong-Castle-Peak-power-1978 — Page 6

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03 DI INDUS

FCO

GRS 173

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY @90406 Z

FM PEKING 0902202 DEC 78

TO IMMEDIATE B.T.C. HONG KONG

TELNO 133 OF 9 DEC

HKK UY

RECEIVED

INDIDI

No

INFO IMMEDIATE DTI AND FCO (FED)

NO 51 189.

1165

Action Taken

DE 1978

PA

DUT

}

Action Taken

359

(1760

2

cc. 1. Mr Oldha

مه

11C

Nir Haywood FC/FA

YOUR ÏNDUS 223 TO DOI: HONG KONG TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

1

1 HAVE DISCUSSED WITH WANG JUN-SHENG THE SENIOR VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE THE PROPOSED REFERENCE TO THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY TO CHINA IN THE PRESS RELEASE. HE IS SURPRIS- INGLY AND STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ANY SUCH REFERENCE. HE ARGUED THAT NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE MADE UNTIL THE DEAL HAD BEEN CONCLUDED.

2. WE MUST RESPECT THIS CLEAR EXPRESSION OF CHINESE VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT.

3. WANG APPRECIATES THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM CONTRACT WILL BE MADE AND THAT IN THE LIGHT OF PUB- LICITY THAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED THERE ARE LIKELY TO BE QUE- STIONS ABOUT THE LINK TO CHINA. 1 CAN ONLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SAY AS LITTLE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. ANY REFERENCE TO THE SUBJECT SHOULD, I THINK, DESIGNATE KWANGTUNG PROVINCE RATHER THAN CHINA AS THE RECIPIENT.

CRADOCK

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