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DISCUSSION ON THIS AREA OF THE PROPOSED PACKAGE MORE INTO LINE WITH THAT ON THE CONVENTIONAL ISLAND, WHERE GEC HAVE ALREADY HELD A NUMBER OF DETAILED TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. IT WOULD ALSO SERVE THE VALUABLE PURPOSE OF KEEPING UP THE MOMENTUM OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CUSTOMER.
SHOULD THIS PROPOSAL GO FORWARD, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A GOVERNMEN OBSERVER TO THE TECHNICAL MISSION, IDEALLY YOURSELF, THOUGH THIS WOULD BE FOR CONSIDERATION, DEPENDING ON THE TIMING AND LOCATION OF DISCUSSIONS.
EQUALLY, IT WOULD BE FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER SUCH TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE IN GUANGDONG OR BEIJING.
IN REPLY TO ENQUIRIES FROM THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN LONDON ABOUT PLANS FOR THE PROPOSED UK GOVERNMENT LAND MISSION, WE HAVE INDICATED THAT WE STILL AWAIT AN ANSWER FROM THE UNITED STATES STATE DEPARTMENT ON THE QUESTION OF EXTENDING NNC'S LICENCE. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND AND GIVEN THAT THE CONSTRAINTS WE ARE UNDER, WOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSALS OUTLINED ABOVE, THE TIMING OF A TECHNICAL MISSION AND HOW YOU ANTICIPATE THE CHINESE WOULD REACT. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO STONES WHOSE VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD PULL NO PUNCHES ON BLAMING THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR OUR DIFFICULTIES IN FURTHER GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT DISCUSSIONS: AND THAT THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN A TECHNICAL VISIT AS OUTLINED ABOVE, PROVIDED THIS SERVED TO MAKE PLAIN TO THE CHINESE THAT WHAT WAS ON OFFER WAS A WESTINGHOUSE REACTOR, AND THAT NNC'S TECHNICAL ROLE WOULD BE MINOR. STONES THOUGHT THE SECOND WEEK IN SEPTEMBER MIGHT BE TOO EARLY FOR THE CHINESE TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR TECHNICAL DISCUSSION.
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HOWEVER, WE ARE KEEN, IFPOSSIBLE, TO KEEP UP MOMENTUM BEFORE THE P.M.'S VISIT.
I AM ANXIOUS, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TO PASS A MESSAGE TO MINISTER LI PENG AND VICE GOVERNOR YE BEFORE THE LATTER HOLDS DISCUSSIONS WITH SIR WALTER MARSHALL. WE UNDERSTAND THESE DISCUSSION ARE TO BEGIN ON 24 AUGUST. GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR EARLIEST POSSIBLE REPLY.
INDUS
LIMITED FED NED
HHEAD TRED CHIEF CLERK MADONALD MR MOBERTY MR GILLMORE
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ADDITIONAL DISTIV: GUANG DONG NUCLEAR
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