CONFIDENTIAL
MAS DEEN
THESE VISITS WILL HELP TO COUNTER PUBLIC CONERN AS
EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG. BUT THEY WILL LOSE MUCH OF THEIR EFFECT
UNLESS THEY ARE BACKED UP BY EARLY AND SUBSTANTIVE ACTION BY THE
CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND INTERESTS CONCERNED. THE BRITISH AND
FRENCH GOVERNMENTS SEE GREAT ADVANTAGE IN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
AND THE JOINT VENTURE COMPANY, WHICH WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE STATION, BEING ABLE TO REVEAL PUBLICLY AT THIS STAGE THEIR PLANS AND COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE MEASURES. IN PARTICULAR,
THEY HOPE THAT THE FULLEST PUBLICITY CAN BE GIVEN TO THE IMPORTANCE
AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THE
MEANS BY WHICH THIS ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE
OF IMPECCABLE SAFETY STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD
AND THEREAFTER. THEY PROPOSE THAT THE CONTENT AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THIS PUBLICITY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ADVANCE COLLECTIVELY BY THE
CHINESE, BRITISH AND FRENCH GOVERNMENTS TO MAXIMISE ITS IMPACT IN
REASSURING OPINION IN HONG KONG. THEY WERE GLAD TO NOTE THE STATE-
MENT MADE IN PEKING ON 27 JUNE ABOUT THE NEXT EXPERT COMMITTEE ON
NUCLEAR SAFETY.
THE BRITISH AND FRENCH GOVERNMENTS LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
VICE-PREMIER LI PENG THE REACTIONS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO
THESE PROPOSALS.
ENDS.
EVANS
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IDENTIAL