انيا
&
COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE
d they had no official news from their Government.
Mr Lingafelter
terjected that he was certain American policy would change within a matter of months.
The presentation from AECL lasted a day. safeguards point was a major obstacle. want to have a heavy water reactor.
The discussion revealed that the The Chinese told them they did not
They have received Mr W Leicester of Burns and Roe. They also have had a number of discussions with Gibb and Hill. All the visitors were told that KEC and CLP were working together, that KEC were using Mr Lingafelter as their consultant whereas the UKAEA was the backbone of the technical advice to CLP.
Sir Lawrence Kadoorie asked did Westinghouse come by themselves or did they come with an agent? The Chinese admitted that Westinghouse had cane accompanied by Jardines. Sir Lawrence said rather frigidly that he did not talk to traders and as a matter of principle always insisted in talking to the main people involved. It seems likely that Westinghouse have made a commercial boo-boo.
Finally, I should explain that a British MP who has recently visited Hong Kong has learned about the project, is worried about environmental questions, and has tabled a large number of questions for the Foreign Secretary to answer. After consultation with me Derek March has drafted the following statement in answer to those questions, and I understand that the Governor has approved that statement and transmitted it to London. It reads as follows:
The China Light and Power Company, which is a Hong Kong company, is undertaking a joint fousibility study with the Guandong electricity authorities into the possible siting and construction of a nuclear power plant in Guandong province in the People's Republic of China. No decisions have yet been made nor are they expected in the near future. The company are making use of the technical advice and expertise of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the feasibility study which will be made available to the Hong Kong Government will of course take into account the need for the highest standards of safety. The Hong Kong Government and the UK Government are in touch over the study. There have so far been no consultations between either Governments and the Government of the People's Republic of China.
The Hong Kong Government has machinery to deal with emergencies of all kinds. No specific plans exist in connection with a nuclear power plant but if the Chinese authorities were to decide to build one in the vicinity of Hong Kong such plans would of course be made.
I had the
The next meeting will be on 21st and 22nd July in Hong Kong. impression that the Chinese were looking forward to that very much indeed. The Management Committee will be held on 23rd June, also in Hong Kong.
W. Marshall
W Marshal!
4th June 1980