TNAG-0947-FCO40-1166-Oil-developments-in-and-around-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 19

GRS 140

CONFIDENTIAL

FM JEDDA 130924Z NOV 80

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 17 OF 13 NOV

REPEATED TO IMMEDIATE FCO

Hi 16211

RECEIVIN

VINOV 1980

CONFIDENTIAL

Мо

PA

1.lt.

Jan Take

52

48

HONG KONG TELNO 5 TO ME: OIL FOR HONG KONG

53

1. IT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING IF WE INITIATED CONTACT WITH THE

SAUDIS ON THIS REQUEST ONLY TO FIND THAT THE BNOC WERE

CAPABLE OF MEETING THE HONG KONG SHORTFALL. SHOULD WE NOT

DELAY SUBMISSION OF CATER'S MESSAGE PENDING RESOLUTION OF THE

BNOC POINT?

2. THE MESSAGE IN TUR MAKES NO SPECIFIC LINK BETWEEN HONG

KONG'S PROBLEM AND THE IRAQ/IRAN WAR. TACTICALLY SUCH A LINK

WILL IMPROVE SLIGHTLY HONG KONG'S SLIM CHANCES OF A FAVOUR ABLE

RESPONSE. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS AND HONG KONG'S, THEREFORE,

WE PROPOSE TO ADD THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE TO THE END OF THE

FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE MESSAGE:

"'OWING TO THE DISRUPTION OF SUPPLIES FOLLOWING THE WAR BETWEEN

IRAN AND IRAQ, HONG KONG HAS BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE

NECESSARY SUPPLIES OF OIL THROUGH ITS USUAL CHANNELS.''

DO YOU AGREE?

CRAIG

LIMITED

HK & GD

MED

ES & SD

MR DONALD

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

54

CONFIDENTIAL