CONFIDENTIAL
question of nuclear safety.
Responsibility for nucler safety arrangements during a
visit to Hong Kong by a nuclear powered vessel (RN or USN)
rests with the UK. Certain berths at buoys in Hong Kong
harbour are cleared for visits by nuclear powered vessels but
with a general limitation to 10% usage (ie 36 ship/days per
year). From the nuclear safety point of view there are no
laid down criteria for the number of vessels which can visit
concurrently ie two can be accepted at one time provided the
aggregate usage of the berths over the year does not exceed
the limitation laid down.
A Special Safety scheme has been drawn up between Service
and Civilian authorities for use in the unlikely event of a
nuclear reactor accident. In such an event a nuclear
emergency monitoring team would be provided from the UK but in
order to improve the immediate response capability monitoring
instruments have been provided at Hong Kong and local service
personnel have been trained in monitoring techniques.
Over the past two years visits slightly in excess of the
approved 10% usage have been accepted. Under the proposed
USN nuclear powered warship programme for 1973/4, however,
visits to Hong Kong are likely to reach 25% usage (91 days
per annum). Accordingly, a review of safety aspects has been
put in hand with the UK AEA Safety and Reliability Directorate
to ensure that safety criteria as accepted by the Nuclear
Powered Warships Safety Committee are not exceeded. This will