CONFIDENTIAL
2
adequacy of the measures currently proposed:
(a) Safety during construction: covered by a recent France/Chinese
Nuclear Safety Agreement. JVC responsible for preparing
reports on safety during station construction to go to Chinese
Nuclear Safety Administration (NSA). French to train JVC.
How does this match up to normal French practice?
(b) Safety during operation: France/Chinese agreement apparently
only provides for cooperation until start of commercial
generation of power. What will the continuing safeguards be to ensure that plant is operated safely? This is of particular
concern to Hong Kong. The longer Hong Kong can see a continuing French involvement the more convincing our publicity will be.
(c) Status of Chinese safety regulations/organisations
At
In the long term the safety of the plant will depend on the seriousness with which the Chinese State organisations (especially the NSA) enforce adequate safety standards. present the French impression is that the NSA is "toothless". The Chinese need to be pressed to make public commitments about its role and demonstrate that it has the resources to carry out its responsibilities.
(d) Position of Hong Kong authorities
To reassure public opinion, HKG needs: -
i.
ii.
adequate information about the measures being taken by the Chinese and French to ensure station safety during construction and operation;
to demonstrate it is itself taking adequate precautions to cater for any problems which might arise during plant operation.