TNAG-0948-FCO40-1167-Effect-of-nuclear-exports-to-China-on-Hong-Kong-Guangdong-nu-1980 — Page 160

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FX B.T.C. HONG KONG 250745Z JAN

DESKEY 252900Z

HKK166/1

5 JAM

OFFS

(8)

NO.

1

RIMR

-No Rs

TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER BTC 18 OF 25 JANUARY, 1980.

FOR CLIFT, HKGD FROM. MARCH,

YOUR TELNO 91 GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT.

1. I AM QUITE CONTENT WITH THE REVISION OF THE DOI PAPER IN YOUR TUR. HOWEVER, DAVID WILSON WHOM I HAVE CONSULTED INFORMALLY FEELS

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD BE GLAD TO SEE THE FOLLOWING

AMENDMENTS INCORPORATED:

(A) LINE 4 INSERT ... THEREFORE NOT BE AN ENTIRELY NOVEL DEPARTURE

FOR THEM THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WISH TO BE OVER-DEPENDENT

ON CHINA FOR SUCH A KEY RESOURCE. THEY ARE AT PRESENT

EXAMINING WHAT PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY THEY

COULD SAFELY ACCEPT FROM CHINA. THEY SEE SOME ADVANTAGE IN

IN BROADENING THE BASE OF FUEL FROM WHICH THEIR ELECTRICITY

IS PRODUCED.

*

(D) PARA 3 - LINE 4 DELETE FROM ''ON BALANCE" TO "CLP??.

INSERT: ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN HK IS ENTIRELY IN THE HANDS

OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER THAT THEY

CAN ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF MK, AND ALSO MINIMISE ANY POSSIBLE RISK TO HK/GUANGDONG RELATIONS BY

CONTINUING TO ALLOW NEGOTIATIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY CLP WITHOUT DIRECT. GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT. THEY ARE HOWEVER REEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH CLP ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS.

(C) PARA 3 - DELETE LAST SENTENCE AND INSERT

3

'ALTHOUGH THEY COULD HAVE BEEN PROBABLY MORE FORTHRIGHT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE USE OF BRITISH EQUIPMENT A CONDITION OF HONG KONG'S PURCHASE OF ELECTRICITY FROM

GUANGDON. THEY CONSIDER THAT TO DO SO WOULD GO AGAINST THEIR FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY AND ULTIMATELY REBOUND IN DAMAGE TO THEIR ABILITY TO RE-EXPORT E.G. TO THE STATES.**

CONFIDENTIAL

/ 2. WILSON