32
747
Reference.
CODE 18-77
Mr Morphet
Hopphet
cc Hr Hampton
Mr Agrell
MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE OF FEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
This is a belated report on my meeting with LI XIN, Defence Technology Attaché of the People's Republic of China on 18 June.
The Chinese had taken soundings about such a meeting with contacts in FED, and rang me on 17 June (as I was about to go to a meeting) pressing for a discussion. I agreed to a meeting on
19th June, on the basis that I would simply go over the HSE booklet "Emergency Plans for Civil Nuclear Installations" (ISO £2.75), although of course I hoped to take advice before the meeting and, if there were difficulties, defer it. In fact Mr Li turned up at 10 am on 18th!
As I had not had the opportunity of taking advice I adopted the stance of being helpful within the terms of published information
I thus described the legal responsibility for safety resting on operators, and generally took him through the responsibilities of Oerators, of the police, local, health and water authorities, ci the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and of Government Departments in the terms in which they are described in the HSE booklet, of which I then handed over a copy.
Only
The questions asked by Mr Li were mainly of clarification. two questions went outside what could be answered on the basis of the HSE booklet: he asked about the role of the military. I answered in general terms that of course military personnel were brought into emergencies if necessary, but he would note that under our plans responsibilities rested in the first instance on civilian organisations. I asked how it was envisaged that things would be done in China; Mr Li said that he was no expert but had been instructed to collect preliminary information about how things were organised in the UK. He also asked about future planning and intemational co-operation; I referred briefly to the role of the IAEA, on which I said that I was no expert. I assured him that we would do our best to help with, any further questions. He expressed much gratitude,
JT Challis AB1a Room 1547 ext 6497
ご牛ど
14 Jly 1986