5.
CONFIDENTIAL
LI PENG WENT ON TO SAY THAT, IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, IN ADDITION TO THE MEASURES PUT FORWARD IN THE BRITISH AND FRENCH PROPOSALS, HE THOUGHT IT NECESSARY FOR THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS TO EXPRESS PUBLICLY THEIR FIRM POSITION WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE. THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF NUCLEAR PLANTS ESTABLISHED AND OPERATING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IN JAPAN THERE WAS A PLANT ONLY 50KM FROM TOKYO, AND IN CANADA ONLY 230KM FROM TORONTO. SO THE PROXIMITY OF THE PLANT TO HONG KONG WAS NOT A REAL PROBLEM. THOSE WHO WENT TO FRANCE ON THE INSPECTION TOUR OUGHT TO OBTAIN A CORRECT PERSPECTIVE ON THE ISSUE. HOWEVER THOSE WHO WENT WITH PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS WOULD PROBABLY OBTAIN A TOTALLY CONTRARY IMPRESSION. SOME PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE EXPRESSING FEARS ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT BEING PERHAPS ONE IN TEN THOUSAND. SCIENTIFICALLY, THEY HAD A POINT. IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AGREED, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS WILLING TO TAKE JOINT ACTION WITH THEM TO EXPRESS A FIRM POSITION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAYA BAY PLANT. AS TO THE PROPOSALS IN THE MESSAGE I HAD DELIVERED, HE FIRST REPEATED HIS THANKS, AND SECONDLY UNDERTOOK TO GIVE THE PROPOSALS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
6.
! REPLIED THAT I WELCOMED HIS RESPONSE AND WOULD REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. I WOULD ALSO FAITHFULLY REPORT HIS ADDITIONAL REMARKS. HE WOULD HAVE NOTICED THE EMPHASIS IN THE MESSAGE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. I HAD VISITED HONG KONG AFTER HU YAOBANG'S VISIT. I HAD BEEN STRUCK BY THE WIDESPREAD AND DEEP-SEATED CONCERN ABOUT THE DAYA BAY PLANT.
SEE MY TWO IFTS.
1.
EVANS
GUANGDONG
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-2
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
CONFIDENTIAL