166/1
AKK RECEIVED IN
208
2 JUL 1936
TOP CUFI
GRS 600
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PARIS
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 661
OF 01165OZ JULY 86-
Confidential
INFO IMMEDIATE DTI, HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, PEKING
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS VIENNA
MIPT
GUANGDONG : NUCLEAR SAFETY.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT HANDED OVER TO FRENCH
BEGINS
1. BRITISH AND FRENCH MINISTERS GLAD OF OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION DURING RECENT VISIT BY PARTY GENERAL
SECRETARY HU TO LONDON AND PARIS. LI PENG SUGGESTED THAT UK AND
FRENCH GOVERNMENTS SHOULD HELP REASSURE HK PUBLIC OPINION. OUR TWO
GOVERNMENTS AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL DO ALL WE CAN. BUT THE
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COROPRATION HAS A 75 PERCENT SHARE IN
THE GNP JVC, WHICH WILL BUILD, OPERATE AND OWN THE POWER STATION.
THE POWER STATION WILL BE BUILT IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE. IT WILL IN
OUR VIEW BE ESSENTIAL IF PUBLIC OPINION IS IN FACT TO BE REASSURED
THAT THE PRC ITSELF SHOULD TAKE EFFECTIVE AND EARLY MEASURES TO SHOW
IN PUBLIC THAT THEY WILL PUT LI PENG'S WORDS TO THE JVC QUALITY
AND SAFETY FIRST - INTO ACTION.
-
2. TO GIVE EARLY REASSURANCE TO HK PUBLIC OPINION EDF HAV AGREED TO
SEND A SENIOR TEAM TO HONG KONG (PROBABLY IN THE PERIOD 9–11 JULY)
TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS WITH JOURNALISTS PRESENT. CLOSE SQUARE
BRACKETS DURING THIS, EDF INTEND TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO VISIT FRENCH NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS. THIS
WOULD GIVE FULL OPPORTUNITY FOR INFLUENTIAL HK PEOPLE TO SEE EDF IN
ACTION AND TO HEAR SAFETY RECORD. SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN HOPE PRCG
WILL WISH TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THIS INVITATION IN AN
APPROPRIATE WAY. CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS THIS WILL HOWEVER ALMOST
CERTAINLY TURN ATTENTION TO CHINESE INTENTIONS ON SAFETY IN BUILDING
AND ESPECIALLY OPERATING POWER STATIONS. WE SEE GREAT ADVANTAGE IN
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE JVC, WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE STATION, BEING ABLE TO REVEAL PUBLICLY AT THIS STAGE THEIR PLANS AND COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE MEASURES.
Cor nfidential
13.