Department of Energy Atomic Energy Division Thames House South
Millbank London SW1P 4QJ
Telegrams Energy London SW1
CE Leeks Esq
Hong Kong Department
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Whitehall
LONDON SW1
Dear Leckor
HONG KONG
UKC (60/
CEIVED IN H
Telephone Direct Line 01-21441986
Switchboard 01-211 3000
INDE
Your reference
Our reference
Date
乙
AE 9/103/3
8 July 1986
229
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Av Path
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Following our telephone conversation earlier this afternoon, please find below our proposed text in reply to Hong Kong telno ELFU 001 about the Sizewell B situation. As I explained to you, it is difficult for us to comment on an article in a journal which we have not seen and nor is it possible to predict the outcome of the Sizewell Inquiry. However, you will find that we have answered the remaining questions and for good measure added some further background information which Hong Kong may find useful in dealing with questions on this topic.
2.
"Under existing statutes, the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) have to apply for consent of the Secretary of State for Energy under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 to construct any generating station. Their application to construct a Pressurised Water Reactor at Sizewell has been through a lengthy public inquiry and the Inspector, Sir Frank Layfield, has told the Secretary of State that he now hopes to deliver his report to him in September. The Secretary of
State then intends to reach his decisions on the report as soon as he possibly can. There is no indication at this stage of the likely outcome of the Inquiry.
The Board will also require a separate site licence from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate before construction can begin."
Subject to your comments, I should be grateful if you would arrange for this message to be sent to Hong Kong, together with our sincere apologies for the delay.
Yours sincerely Buan Greeman
B FREEMAN
Ckz 9/7
cc Mr Steele AE
Mr Johnson El