CONFIDENTIAL
48665
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TO GIVE EARLY REASSURANCE TO HK PUBLIC OPINION EDF HAVE
AGREED TO SEND A SENIOR TEAM TO HONG KONG (PROBABLY IN THE PERIOD
9-11 JULY) TO GIVE A PRESENTATION TO MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH JOURNALISTS PRESENT. DURING THIS, EDF
INTEND TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO VISIT
FRENCH NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS. THIS WOULD GIVE FULL OPPORTUNITY
FOR INFLUENTIAL HK PEOPLE TO SEE EDF IN ACTION AND TO HEAR SAFETY
RECORD. HOPE PRCG WILL WISH TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THIS
INVITATION IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY. THIS WILL HOWEVER ALMOST
CERTA INLY TURN ATTENTION TO CHINESE INTENTIONS ON SAFETY IN
BUILDING AND ESPECIALLY OPERATING POWER STATIONS. WE SEE GREAT
ADVANTAGE IN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE JVC, WHICH WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE STATION, BEING ABLE TO REVEAL PUBLICLY AT THIS STAGE THEIR PLANS AND COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE
MEASURES.
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ALSO TO REASSURE HK OPINION, HMG PROPOSE A LIAISON VISIT
BY BRITISH NUCLEAR EXPERTS FROM UKAEA TO RECEIVE A BRIEF FROM
CHINESE COUNTERPARTS ON THE DAYA BAY POWER STATION, ESPECIALLY ON
SAFETY ASPECTS OF MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION AFTER THE PLANT HAS
BEEN COMMISSIONED. FOR THE SAME REASON WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO
EXTEND AN INVITATION TO INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN HONG KONG TO VISIT
PEKING AND DAYA BAY SITE.
ALL OF THESE VISITS WILL HELP COUNTER PUBLIC CONCERNS 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 GOVERNMENT. IN PARTICULAR, WE HOPE THAT THE FULLEST
PUBLICITY CAN BE GIVEN TO THE IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THE MEANS BY WHICH IT
INTENDS TO ENSURE THE MAINTENANCE OF IMPECCABLE SAFETY STANDARDS
THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND THEREAFTER. WE PROPOSE
THAT THE CONTENT AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS PUBLICITY ARE
CONSIDERED IN ADVANCE COLLECTIVELY BY ALL THREE GOVERNMENTS TO
MAXIMISE ITS IMPACT IN REASSURING HONG KONG. WE WERE GLAD TO
NOTE THE STATEMENT MADE IN PEKING ON 27 JUNE ABOUT THE NEW
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