40
HKK 162
RECEIVED IN ROKY No. 51 1 1 NOV 1980
DESK OFFICER
CONFIDENTIAL
INDEX
PA
48
GPS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 210524Z NOV 80
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1487 OF 11 NOVEMBER
AND TO JEDDA
MYTELNO_1438: OIL FOR HONG KONG.
$12.11.
Awizlu
1. THIS IS TO RECORD DETAILS OF TELECON OF 10 NOVEMBER BETWEEN GRAY (JEDDA) AND CARTLAND (ECONOMIC SERVICES BRACH).
2. GRAY CONFIRMED THE ASSESSMENT WE HAD FROM OIL INDUSTRY SOURCES HERE THAT A GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO SHAIKH YAMANI WAS
OUR MOST LIKELY MEANS OF OBTAINING OIL WE NEED (REFTEL).
3. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD ARRANGE FOR A TELEX TO BE SENT FROM HKG TO SHAIKH YAMANI, REQUESTING THE PURCHASE AND MAKING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) THAT HONG KONG IS A DEVELOPING ECONOMY AND A FREE ENTERPRISE
SOCIETY
(B) THAT HK HAS GOOD COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA (C) THAT THE NEED FOR THE PURCHASE ARISES FROM A TEMPORARY SHORTAGE DUE TO POWER STATION CONSTRUCTION RATHER THAN AN OVERALL
PLAN TO BUILD UP STRATEGIC RESERVES.
(D) THAT HONG KONG IS SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE IRAN/IRAQ
WAR
(E) IF POSSIBLE, WE SHOULD IMPLY OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UK ECONOMY TO FORESTALL QUESTIONS AS TO WHY UK IS NOT ASSISTING
DIRECTLY WITH THIS.
(F) THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO SEND A SMALL DELEGATION CONSISTING OF A SENIOR UNOFFICIAL AND A SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH SHAIKH YAMANI OR HIS REPRESENTATIVES.
DELEGATION WOULD BRING WITH THEM AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM
THE GOVERNOR TO YAMANI.
4. WE ARE NOW ACTIVELY PURSUING THIS SUGGESTED COURSE OF ACTION
AID WILL LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
5. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AND JEDDAS HELP AND TO JEDDA FOR THE PROMISE
OF ASSISTANCE TO ANY DELEGATION WE SEND.
CATER
MINIMAL
HK & GD MED
ES & SD
[THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED)
CONFIDENTIAL
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