TNAG-2762-FCO40-3979-Hong-Kong-Chinese-discrimination-against-UK-companies-Jardi-1993 — Page 12

FAX TRANSMISSION

Our Reference:

OT4,

CONFIDENTIAL

22 December 1993

M Baker Esq

DTI

CC: P Ricketts Esq, HKD, FCO

D Hall Esq, PEP, DTI

Page 1 of 1

HUB 180/2

2.DEL 1993

M Dinham Esq, Government House

British

Trade Commission

Hong Kong

9th Floor, Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road, Hong Kong

PA

Jardine 39

Mail Address: GPO Box No 528, Hong Kong

Telephone: 523 0176

Telex: HX 78081 (a/b 73031 UKTRA HX)

Facsimile: (852) 845 2870 Cable Address: UK TRADE, Hong Kong

CHINESE THREATS TO BRITISH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

Dear Martyn.

Please refer to BTC Tel No. 303.

1.

2.

WH

24/11

y bean: Osim fondled

Mr Fry

Miss belah,

Mr Whrom

14/12 2. M. Abne

I took the temperature today with Gordon Wu who is in a position to offer massive business to British companies in China - possibly more so than anyone else here. GEC-A are talking to him about 4 x 660 mw power projects in Shenzhen east with an eventual target of 10 x 660 mw and about 4 further large power projects elsewhere in China. He is also proceeding with his plans for a rail system around the outskirts of Canton, reported in BTC Tel No. 271.

3.

But

I found Wu very calm. He was an engineer, not a politican. He would try to keep politics and trade separate, and he thought he was experienced enough at doing business in China to know how to achieve this. He said that at the height of the Mirage dispute, he had bought a French toll system for his super-highway in Guangdong. He said with emphasis that he would continue to propose for his China projects the best equipment in terms of technicalities, price and delivery. he would not be saying much in public about British equipment, for obvious reasons. The way forward was through quiet, closed door dialogue with the Chinese. Updating me on his rail system around Canton, he pointed out that it would involve more rolling stock than the Canton Metro proper and that both GEC-A and ABB Brel "are good at their jobs".

4.

This i B not to say that he agrees with our approach on the constitutional issues. He does not, but that is a different story. His message on British suppliers for his projects in China was a reassuring one.

у

~~

Pe.

Exshath

hell च्चल

Francis Cornish

CONFIDENTIAL

Every effort is made to ensure that the information given herein is accufate, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or mistevding statements in that information caused by negligence or otherwise and no responsibility is accepted in regard to the manding of any firms, companies or

individuals mentioned.