TNAG-1503-FCO40-2061-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-at-Daya-Bay-safety-c-1986 — Page 191

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58962

(D)

(E)

(F)

2.

BEEN MADE BY JVC SUGGESTING THAT CONTRACT SIGNATURE WILL

BE MID SEPTEMBER (DETAILS IN PARA 2 BELOW FOR USE IF

NECESSARY). THIS IS ENABLING THOSE CALLING FOR THE

URGENT RECALL OF LEGCO TO SAY THAT THIS IS NECESSARY IF

LEGCO'S VIEWS ARE TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE

SIGNATURE TAKES PLACE.

WE THEREFORE NEED AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT THAT

SIGNATURE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER

OR THEREABOUTS. IDEALLY, THIS WOULD COME DIRECTLY FROM

THE PRC AUTHORITIES, BUT I WELL UNDERSTAND THAT THIS

MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR YOU. WOULD IT BE ACCEPTABLE,

HOWEVER, FOR HKG TO TELL S L CHEN (ACTING SENIOR MEMBER

OF LEGCO), PRIOR TO 3 SEPTEMBER MEETING, THAT I HAD BEEN

TOLD BY A SENIOR PRC OFFICIAL THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

DO NOT NOW CONTEMPLATE SIGNATURE BEFORE THE END OF

SEPTEMBER, AND THAT CHEN, COULD SAY THIS ON 3 SEPTEMBER?

IT WOULD NATURALLY BE HELPFUL IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

AND JVC COULD TAKE SUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONFIRM THE

POSITION.

WE REMAIN OF COURSE ANXIOUS TO FINALISE THE OUTSTANDING

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL POINTS SO THAT EVERYTHING IS

READY FOR CONTRACT SIGNATURE AND AUTHORISATION TO PROCEED

BEFORE 7 OCTOBER.

THE SCMP OF 25 AUGUST NOTED THAT QUOTE THE GNPJVC'S

GENERAL MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT CONTRACT SIGNATURE WAS LIKELY TO

BE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 11 AND 20, WHICH CONTRADICTED A STATEMENT BY

MRS MARIA TAM UNQUOTE. ALSO, THE JVC HAVE JUST TELEXED GEC

URGING AN EARLY RESOLUTION OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES AND STATING

THEIR INTENTION TO SIGN THE GEC CONTRACT BETWEEN 15 AND 18

SEPTEMBER.

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