191
GRS 580
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27083OZ FCO
TELNO 2006
OF 270725Z JUNE 86
INFO IMMED NATE PEKING-
186
CONFIDENTIAL
HICK
160/1...
RECEIVED
27 JUN 1986
YOUR TELNO 1254: NUCLEAR SAFETY: CHINA
400 DOL
MY COMMENTS ON THE POINTS IN PARA 2 OF TUR ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
1. (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLAINED)
PUBLIC OPINION:
(41) PUBLIC CONCERN HAS DEVELOPED FURTHER SINCE MY TELNO 1948 AND
THE ISSUE IS #NCREASINGLY POLITICAL. SZETO WAH'S CALL FOR AN
ADJOURNMENT DEBATE HAS DRAWN SUPPORT FROM OTHER LEGCO
MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS. MARTIN LEE HAS
DECLARED HIS INTENTION TO TABLE A MOTION 4N LEGCO, CLAMING
THAT AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE WOULD NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO REFLECT
RESIDENTS' WORRIES. WE SHALL NOT KNOW UNT:14 LATER TODAY THE
PROPOSED TERMS OF HIS MOTHON. LEGCO MEMBERS WILL ALSO TAKE A
DECISION ON THE FORM OF THE DEBATE LATER TODAY. YOU WILL
APPRECIATE THAT EVEN IF MEMBERS FAVOUR AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE
MARTIN LEE CAN STILL TABLE A MOTION SEPARATELY.
(1) THE PRESS HAVE REPORTED THAT MISS DUNN TOLD REPORTERS YESTERDAY
THAT THE DAYA BAY ISSUE HAD CAUSED A 'LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN
HONG KONG', AND THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE INTERESTS OF ANYBODY
TO BGNORE THE CONCERN OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE'. SHE URGED
BOTH THE CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE THE
PUBLIC WITH ADEQUATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLANT'S SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MEASURES, AND EMPHASIZED THAT THE PROJECT WAS SOLELY
A BUSINESS INVESTMENT WITH NO INVOLVEMENT BY THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT. VERY WIDE PUBLICITY WAS GIVEN TO MISS DUNN AND
ALSO TO THE GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE. YAXLEY'S FORTHCOMING
VISIT TO LONDON WAS SEEN AS A POSITIVE HF SOMEWHAT LATE MOVE
BY THE GOVERNMENT.
(**) REPORTS FROM OUR DISCRICT OFFICERS RECORD THAT THEIR
CONTACTS ARE OPPOSED TO CONSTRUCTION AND THAT IF THE
DISQUIET AND FEAR OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WERE NOT ALLAYED
SOON, PEOPLE MIGHT LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
2. (NEXT THREE WORDS UNDERLINED)
IMPLICATIONS FOR CLP
ALTHOUGH THE FINANCIAL/CONTRACTUAL IMPLICATIONS OF WITHDRAWING
WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR CLP, DO NOT EXCLUDE THAT THE
BOARD WOULD BE RELIEVED OF THE CHINESE WERE ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE
CONFIDENTIAL
/ TO