GRS 1400
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMED HATE FCO
TELNO 1936
A CONFIDENTIAL
OF 23O15OZ JUNE 86
TOP COPY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKHNG, PARIS, DTH, UKDEL PAEA WIENNA
OUR TELNO 1902: NUCLEAR SAFETY: CHIDNA
WE HAVE ALREADY ADVISED YOU IN OUR TELNO 1822 THAT WE BELIEVE WE NEED A LONG TERM STRATEGY DESIGNED TO ALLAY PUBLIC FEARS N HONG KONG ABOUT DAYA BAY. THESE FEARS ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY AND WILL FROM TIME TO TIME BUBBLE UP AND PERHAPS EVEN BOHL OVER.
2. THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE WE AS A GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO ALLAY PUBLIC FEAR. WE HAVE NO DIRECT INVOLVEMENT #N THE PROJECT AND DAYA BAY IS NOT IN OUR TERRITORY. MOREVOER, WE HAVE NO NUCLEAR EXPERTISE AND WE CANNOT DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH THE QUESTIONS AND WORRIES THAT ARE BEING RAISED. NOR SHOULD WE, SINCE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALLAYING THESE FEARS MUST REST MAINLY WITH THE CHINESE AND ALSO WITH THE BRITISH AND FRENCH GOVERNMENTS. WE SEE IT AS ESSENTIAL THAT A STRATEGY WHICH DIRECTLY INVOLVES THESE THREE GOVERNMENTS IS IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE HONG KONG PUBLIC URGENTLY NEED TO SEE THAT SOMETHING IS BEING DONE ON THEIR BEHALF BY THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS POWER STATION.
3. THE EXPRESSIONS OF AGREEMENT BY HU, LH PENG AND ZHOU NẠN !N LONDON THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD COOPERATE TO ALLAY THE FEARS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT DAYA BAY PROVI¡DE A USEFUL AND THMELY BASIS ON WHICH WE CAN BUILD A STRATEGY AND DEV:HSE TACTICS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
4. HKG'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE OF ANY METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY WHERE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IS BUILT NEAR HTS TERRITORY M.E.
(A) TO ENSURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THAT THOSE HINVOLVED IN BUHLDING AND OPERATING THE PLANT (IP.E. THE CHINESE AND FRENCH) MAINTAMIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS:
(B) TO DEVISE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
THESE TWO PARTS COMPRISE OUR STRATEGY. WITH REGARD TO (A) WE CONSIDER THAT :NT WOULD BE FOR THE BRITSH GOVERNMENT TO TALK TO THE CHINESE AND FRENCH ON OUR BEHALF. WE SHOULD WIM TO ENCOURAGE THESE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAMME OF MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP TO RE-ASSURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE #MPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAMME N.E. OUR TACTICS ARE OUTLINED BELOW UNDER PART ONE. THE SECOND PART (B) COVERS THE HARWELL CONSULTANCY AND YAXLEY'S «IMPENDING VISIT TO LONDON TO GAIN INFORMATION ABOUT CIVIL CONTINGENCY PLANNING.
CONFIDENTIAL
/PART