GRS 230
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
нкк
RECEIVED IN
166/1
18 JUN 1936
CONFIDENTIALITY
Lion Taken
TO DESKBY 09093OZ FCO
TELNO 990
OF 090713Z JUNE 86
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PARIS
138
FROM COMMERC||
TAL COUNSELLOR. OUR TELNO.976 AND HONG KONG TELS NO.1716 AND 1726: NUCLEAR SAFETY, CHINA.
139
1. WHEN I SAW THE FRENCH NUCLEAR COUNSELLOR ON 9 JUNE TO PICK UP
THE SINO/FRENCH LETTER OF INTENT ON NUCLEAR SAFETY, I TOLD HIM IN
CONFIDENCE THAT LI PENG HAD ASKED FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF FEELINGS IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF DAYA BAY. I SAID THAT I EXPECTED MINISTERS TO EMPHASISE TO LI PENG THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
CHINESE GETTING THE SAFETY FACTOR RIGHT. GOURIEVIDIS SAID THAT
THERE WAS ONE SPECIFIC MESSAGE WHICH IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PUT ACROSS TO LI PENG. THE CHINESE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WAS, FRANKLY, TOOTHLESS. IT NEEDED BOTH FUNDS AND PERSONNEL. HE HOPED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT COULD THEREFORE PRESS LI PENG TO ENSURE
THAT THE NSA COULD BE ALLOCATED BOTH AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY. TO
TALK OF CONCERN FOR SAFETY WITHOUT BEING READY TO ALLOCATE THE
NECESSARY RESOURCES WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
2. GOURIEVIDIS ADDED THAT HE WAS PRESSING THE CHINESE TO HOLD
A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO PUBLICISE THE RESULTS
OF THE RECENT MEETING IN PARIS AND THE SIGNATURE OF THE LETTER OF
INTENT. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUBLIC OPINION THAT SUCH PROGRESS AS
HAD BEEN MADE SHOULD BE RECORDED. HE AWAITS CHINESE REACTIONS.
THOMSON
GUANGDONG
LIMITED
FED
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
PS
NED
TRED
HKD
PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED
PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR DAUNT
MR WILSON
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
CONFIDENTIAL
REPEATED AS REQUESTED)