TNAG-0947-FCO40-1166-Oil-developments-in-and-around-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 177

GR 290

HKK 1621

UNCLASSIFIED

221990

FM BTC HONG KONG 140120Z FEB 1980

TO PRIORITY FCO

28.0

TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 27 OF 14 FEB 1980

INFO DO I

INFO DOT (FOR CRE4)

INFO SINGAPORE

OFFSHORE OIL SERVICES.

HKK 162 2

RECOVER

SYNO. S

ZMÁR 1980

DESK/OFFICER

INDEX

PA

121

PA

Arzinn

Note- minute sant to PSD supporting BTC HK's request.

Anvilcianm

15.2.80

I NOTE FROM THE LONDON PRESS SERVICE TRANSMISSION OF 7 FEBRUARY THAT BRITISH INDUSTRY IS MAKING A SPECIAL EFFORT TO SHOW ITS WARES AT THE 1980 OFFSHORE SOUTH EAST ASIA EXHIBITION IN SINGAPORE FROM 26-29 FEBRUARY. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED OUR COPY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY FOR 8 FEBRUARY BUT THE LPS STORY REFERS TO NEW AND UP-DATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AIMED AT THE BURGEONING OF THE OIL EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION INDUSTRY OF THE AREA. IT APPEARS THAT 28 BRITISH FIRMS ARE TAKING PART IN THE JOINT VENTURE SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION.

2. I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT SEISMIC SURVEYS OF THE YELLOW AND SOUTH CHINA SEAS ARE LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED BY VARIOUS CONSORTIA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THERE WILL THEN FOLLOW EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CHINESE ABOUT CONTRACTS FOR THE EXPLORATION STAGES. SPECULATION IS RIFE THAT HONG KONG COULD BECOME A MAJOR SERVICE CENTRE FOR OFFSHORE OIL DEVELOPMENTS.

3. I SUSPECT THAT THE CHINESE WILL PREFER TO DEVELOP MAJOR SERVICE CENTRES ON THEIR OWN TERRITORY BUT WE ARE RECEIVING AN INCREASING NUMBER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR

I SHOULD SUPPORT SERVICES AND JOINT VENTURES IN HONG KONG. FIND IT INVALUABLE TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE EXHIBITION IF ONLY TO MEET BRITISH EXPORTERS IN THIS FIELD AND EDUCATE MYSELF ABOUT THEIR CAPABILITIES. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO AUTHORISE MY RETURN AIRFARE TO SINGAPORE AND SHORT ABSENCE

FROM POST.

MARCH

FILE S

PSD

HK & GD

TRED ES & SD