TNAG-0947-FCO40-1166-Oil-developments-in-and-around-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 44

GR 195

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 160941Z OCT

TO ROUTINE MANILA

TOP

HKK162

RECEIVED

PERK INDEX

28 OCTO

مثل

$ 28.10.

28

34

TELEGRAM NUMBER 42 OF 16 OCTOBER, 1980.

INFO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT

OFFICE LONDON.

USE OF SHELL REFINERY IN THE PHILIPPINES BY HKG

1. WE ARE SEEKING MEANS OF ASSURING A STRATEGIC STOCK OF FUEL OIL FOR HONG KONG. FUEL OIL IS AT PRESENT OUR SOLE MEANS OF

GENERATING ELECTRICITY.

2. ONE OPTION BEING INVESTIGATED IS THE PURCHASE OF A CARGO OF CRUDE OIL WHICH AFTER REFINING WOULD BE KEPT IN TANKERS MOORED IN, OR JUST OUTSIDE HONG KONG WATERS. THE QUANTITY WE HAVE IN MIND IS 200,000 TONS.

seef4OA

3. THERE ARE INDIACTIONS THAT SHELL MIGHT BE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE

THE REFINING AT ITS REFINERY IN THE PHILIPPINES. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A DANGER OF ENTRUSTING OUR OIL TO A REFINERY IN THE REGION IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED MIGHT COMMANDEER IT DURING AN EMERGENCY - JAPAN WAS MENTIONED AS BEING PARTICULARLY

LIABLE TO DO THIS. COULD YOU POSSIBLY ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF

THIS HAPPENING IN THE PHILIPPINES?

CATER

MINIMAL

HK & GD

MAED

SEAD

COPIES TO:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL

;