SECRET
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND NOTE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
(Not to be revealed)
1. The Chinese Government has made it clear that it is not yet
ready to discuss the long-term future of Hong Kong. Any attempt
to do so would annoy them.and be likely to be counter-productive.
This position cannot, however, be made public since it would affect
confidence in the Territory.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : BOAT RESCUES
2. The Prime Minister has agreed for the time being that
Vietnamese refugees rescued by British ships should not count
against the United Kingdom quota of 10,000 resettlement places.
This is, however, only an expedient arrangement and is not
agreed policy. It should not therefore be disclosed at present.
CASTLE PEAK 'B' POWER STATION
3.
On 30 March, during the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong,
it was announced that a United Kingdom group, led by GEC and Babcock
and coordinated by the Department of Industry, had won an order for
the construction of the Castle Peak 'B' Power Station from the China
Light and Power Company Limtied and Esso Eastern. GEC and Babcock
are already building the smaller 'A' Station on the same site.
4. The order is worth an estimated £550 million to United Kingdom
industry and was won with some Government financial support.
order will secure between 5,000 and 7,000 jobs over the next 7 years,
mainly in the assisted areas including Northern Ireland.
5. The order has been welcomed in the Territory as tangible
evidence of Her Majesty's Government's commitment to maintain
The
Hong Kong's prosperity. The prestige of the order will also create
a favourable climate for United Kingdom exports to Hong Kong and
neighbouring markets, especially China.
SECRET
/MULTI-FIBRE
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