TNAG-0947-FCO40-1166-Oil-developments-in-and-around-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 120

&

NOFO #39/12

HKid 1624

CEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

17 JUN 1980

PP I

GR-21 ESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

RESTRICTED

REGIST:

HK/162/1 Willing 1812.6

The Wife Mi he

Ms. Achie

AW1716

FM BTC HONG KONG 121025Z JUN 80

TO PRIORITY DO T

TELEGRAM NUMBER CREDA 123 OF 12 JUNE

MY CREDA 119:

ملا

12:6630

RAMR, 16/6/20

of 28.10.1

JTAKES TRED

PUSD)()

HY

NO DISTRIBUTION

THI CREDOT

R129

x3

OIL REFINERY IN HONG KONG

See

6

$

LOCAL BP REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THIS MORNING THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES HAS NOW TOLD A VISITING CORRESPONDENT FROM THE FINANCIAL TIMES THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PURSUING THE RECOMMENDATION IN PARA 272 OF THE 1979 REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN OIL REFINERY IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED.

2. JEAFFRESON WENT ON TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LACKED THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE THEY HAD APPROACHED BP FOR COMMERCIA ADVICE. NO DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN OR IS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT (EXCO APPROVAL WOULD OF COURSE BE NECESSARY). BP HAVE OF COURSE GIVEN NO COMMITMENT.

3. JEAFFRESON APPEARS TO HAVE STRESSED THAT THE RE-EXAMINATION OF THE OIL REFINERY OPTION WAS PART OF A WIDER REVIEW OF THE FUTURE OVERALL ENERGY NEEDS OF THE COLONY. BP HERE ARE REFUSING TO COMMENT FURTHER AND ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES WILL BE REFERRED TO

ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH.

4. AS THE STORY IS NOW LIKELY TO BREAK, 1 CONSIDER MYSELF RELEASED

FROM MY UNDERTAKING NOT TO REVEAL BP'S COMMERCIAL LEAD IN THIS AREA AND SHALL IN FUTURE SPEAK ON THE ABOVE LINES IF QUESTIONED BY

THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF DAVY INTERNATIONAL WHO FIRST

ENQUIRED ABOUT THE SUBJECT IN MID-FEBRUARY (YOUR CREDA 28).

MARCH

NNNN

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