CONFIDENTIAL
46496 · 1
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PRESENT CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS. DURING THIS, EDF INTEND TO INVITE
MISS MARIA TAM AND A GROUP OF HER COLLEAGUES 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. OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS HOPE FRCG 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
PRCG'S BEING ABLE TO REVEAL PUBLICLY AT THIS STAGE THEIR PLANS
AND COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE MEASURES.
ALSO TO REASSURE HK OPINION AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY DOUBTS ABOUT
CHINESE CAPABILITY, HMG PROPOSE A LIAISON VISIT BY BRITISH
NUCLEAR EXPERTS FROM UKAEA TO RECEIVE A BRIEF FROM CHINESE
COUNTERPARTS ON THE DAYA BAY POWER STATION, ESPECIALLY ON SAFETY
ASPECTS. FOR THE SAME REASON WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXTEND AN
INVITATION TO INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG TO VISIT PEKING
AND DAYA BAY SITE.
ALL OF THESE VISITS WILL HELP COUNTER PUBLIC CONCERNS AS EXPRESSED
IN HONG KONG. BUT THEY WILL BE UNDERMINED UNLESS THEY ARE BACKED UP
BY EARLY AND SUBSTANTIVE ACTION BY PRC. LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
LI PENG CHINESE REACTIONS TO THIS PROPOSAL AND CHINESE PROGRAMME
OF FURTHER STEPS IN ESTABLISHING TRAINING PROGRAMME IN NUCLEAR
SAFETY. BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE EXTENSIVE CAPABILITIES IN THIS
FIELD.
HOWE
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NED
TRED
COPIES TO",
MR. CROWLEY - PUSD
MR. BENJAMIN
AMIN} I
DR. DOBBIE
DTI
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR DAUNT
MR WILSON
COPIES SENT TO
No. 10 DOWNING STREET
CONFIDENTIAL