བ་སྲྀ,4",་ *ནས་
56
00 HONG KONG DESKBY 180100 Z
GP 40
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK
166
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 1 JUL 1980
DESKBY 180100Z
DESK OFFICER
FM DOT 1718182 JULIDEX
PA
29
REGISTRY
Action Taken
The Mar. 2
in Wes
My My
Doi HIT + G
2
TREY.
ize
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONGONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER INDUS 206 OF 17 JULY
INFO PEKING
GUANGDONG B
FOR MARCH FROM MANZIE
WP
YOUR BTC TELNO 92. WE HAVE RECEIVED THE LETTER AND MINUTES FROM SLK AND THE FULL TEXT OF THE STONES/CHENG DISCUSSIONS. THIS PROJECT IS CLEARLY MAKING ENCOURAGING PROGRESS. STONES AND MARSHALL HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.
IN VIEW OF THE GREATER ROLE NOW EXPECTED OF HMG AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PRC POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT I HAVE CALLED A MEETING OF THE WHITEHALL POLICY COMMITTEE FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY 23 JULY. I AM AFRAID I CANNOT OFFER DEFINITIVE GUIDANCE BEFORE THEN. I WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSING DEVELOPMENTS WITH LIPPITT ON 21 JULY.
་
THERE ARE HOWEVER TWO ISSUES OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN.
A) ALTHOUGH DR MARSHALL MAY HAVE HAD HIS MASK REMOVED, WE WOULD PREFER HIM TO REMAIN AS A PERCEIVED INDEPENDENT OFFERING
ADVICE SOLELY ON TECHNICAL MATTERS LEST HE COMMIT HMG ON POINTS WHICH WE CANNOT SUPPORT. I REMAIN CONCERNED AT MARSHALL BECOMING INVOLVED IN MATTERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT WHICH HAVE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL SIGNIFICANCE AND AM DISCUSSING THIS
ISSUE TODAY WITH DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. CERTAINLY IT MUST BE
UNDERSTOOD BY CLP AND HENCE KEC THAT MARSHALL IS NOT IN A
POSITION TO COMMIT HMG TO ANYTHING.
B) I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THE STONES
MEMORANDUM REFERRING TO HMG UNDERTAKING. INSURANCE OF THE PLANT,
THIRD PARTY RISKS AND DISASTER LIABILITY. I DO OF COURSE
APPRECIATE THAT IT WAS TABLED AS AN UNOFFICIAL DOCUMENT AND WITHOUT COMMITMENT BUT ONCE STATEMENTS OF THIS KIND ARE TABLED
IT IS OFTEN HARD TO WITHDRAW AT A LATER STAGE.
nd
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