GRS 250
CONFIDENT KAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1806
OF 10114OZ JUNE 86
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR GOODALL, DUS, FROM GOVERNOR.
DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION.
1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER TELEGRAMS THE DEGREE OF CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT THAT IS NOW BEING EXPRESSED MIN HONG KONG FOLLOWING THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT. WE ARE ALPEADY, AS YOU KNOW, OBTAINING ADVICE FROM HARWELL ON VARIOUS SAFETY ASPECTS INCLUDING RISK ASSESSMENTS, CONTINGENCY PLANNING ETC. THERE WILL BE A STRONG NEED FOR US TO KEEP HN CLOSE TOUCH WITH YOU TOO, ON SUCH ISSUES OVER THE WHOLE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD. IF THINGS DO NOT GO WELL AND THE HARWELL REPORTS CAUSE ANXIETY HERE, PRESSURE WILL
NEVITABLY GROW FOR HMG TO PRESS THE CHINESE TO HALT OF MODIFY THE PROJECT, WHICH WOULD CAUSE STRAINS IN HMG'S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THE FRENCH AS WELL AS WITH THE CHINESE.
2. F AND WHEN WE GET TO THE STAGE OF CONTINGENCY ACCIDENT PLANNING, WE SHALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT OUR PRECAUTIONS MATCH THOSE ADOPTED IN CHITHES CLOSE TO U.K. NUCLEAR PLANTS. HENCE WE WOULD FIND IT MOST HELPFUL TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CONTINGENCY PLANS EXIST IN THE UK (OP INDEED MN FRANCE) IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AT A NUCLEAR POWER STATION. WE HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE OF THESE MATTERS, AND IT SEEMS ONLY SENSIBLE TO MAKE USE OF THE CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISE THAT THERE MUST BE IN THE U.K. IN THIS FIELD.
3. * SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL MIF YOU COULD SUGGEST WHOM WE MIGHT CONTACT BOTH IN THE FCO AND WHITEHALL GENERALLY. HAVE MIT HIN
WHOSE MIND THAT OUR SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, JOHN YAXLEY, BRANCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY POLICY, SHOULD PAY A VISHT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS DURING THE SUMMER. BUT FROM THIS DISTANCE NT IS FAR FROM CLEAR WHOM HE SHOULD SEE.
YOUDE
LIMITED. нонко. HOINED. HO FED.
MR GOODALL. MR. WILSON. MR. SLATER. MR. DAUNT.
нин 166/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 1 JUN 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
CONFIDENTIAL
13