TNAG-1658-FCO40-2306-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-station-project-safety-concerns-in-Ho-1987 — Page 279

Mr Hum Ниш

CONFIDENTIAL

PA Daya Bay file. (100

We talked earlier absow the

Stones

case.

I am unconvinced

bur we shall have to Whearn again

all the arquments ajanor

Ld Kasoorie's proposal.

From the Private Secretary

HKC 166

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10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SWIA 2AA

PS

Ps/Lord Glencother

Mr Braithwaite

Mr Gillmore

Mr Mc Lover

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15 September 1987

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

30 SEP 1987

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

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NED HKD.

PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH LORD KADOORIE

The Prime Minister had a talk this morning with Lord Kadoorie. Lord Kadoorie's comments followed very closely the notes which he had sent in advance. Lord Kadoorie said that the Daya Bay project was proceeding well. The first concrete had been poured recently. China Light and Power had now been approached about the possibility of building two further coal- fired power stations in China, as described in his note. On this occasion, however, the Chinese might insist on a call for open tenders. He would be seeing Lord Weinstock and would urge GEC to make a major effort. There were also difficulties over the method of payment. He was considering a scheme for

payment in coal. There was stiff competition from the Japanese.

Lord Kadoorie turned to the difficulty of retaining skilled middle-level Chinese staff in Hong Kong. These people were very worried about the possibility, after 1997, of having only a Chinese passport and perhaps having to wait ten years for a visa. They were therefore moving out of Hong Kong to countries such as Australia and Canada where they could easily acquire passports. It was very difficult to replace them. The French were considering a plan to offer French nationality to qualified engineers working on the nuclear project at Daya Bay, in order to retain their services. He wondered whether something similar could be done by the UK. The Prime Minister said that she was well aware of the problem, which caused her considerable anguish. The trouble was that any such move on our part would be interpreted by the Chinese Government as lack of faith in the Agreement and by people in Hong Kong as lack of confidence in the future. Anyway, we had no power to give such people citizenship unless they met the residence

requirements. She would ponder the problem further but could |

not be optimistic about a solution.

Lord Kadoorie then referred to the very great services rendered to Britain's commercial interests by Mr W F Stones, Managing Director of China Light and Power. He had quite remarkable contacts with the Chinese. He felt that Mr Stones had not received the recognition which he deserved. Some recognition was essential if he was to be encouraged to

CONFIDENTIAL