GRS 800 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
HKCC 160/ Confidential
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
RECEIVED 'P.
TELNO 2132
4 JUL 1986
OF 041005Z
INFO IMMED HATE PEKING
PA
YOUR TELNO
215
NUCLEAR SAFETY: CHINA
216F
1. T S APPARENT FROM PARA 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOT
YET SUCCESSFULLY IMPRESSED UPON YOU
(A) HOW HIGHLY POLITICAL THE ISSUE OF DAYA BAY HAS BECOME N HONG KONG, AND
(B) THE AMPACT WHICH CHERNOBYL, AND THE EXTRA-ORDINARY PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN BY EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT -(SUCH AS HMG'S MEASURES ON LAMB SALES) HAVE HAD HERE.
2. M: THINK IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THE ATMOSPHERE HAS CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY THAT WE COULD NOT GET THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR THE COMMUNITY OF THE DECISION MADE N 1983 WHICH YOU QUOTE, IF THEY WERE PUT TO THEM NOW. AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE REPORTS ON PUBLIC OPINION SENT TO YOU,*
WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG INVOLEMENT IN THE DAYA BAY PROJECT HAS TURNED TO OPPOSITION.
3. ON PARA 3 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REFERENCE WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE GIVEN THE FULLEST "INFORMATION ON SAFETY STANDARDS BY THE CONSTRUCTORS AND THE OPERATORS OF THE PLANT, AND WE SHALL MAKE CONTINGENCY PLANS TO MATCH THOSE OF SIMILAR CONURBATIONS IN EUROPE.
4. MF HOWEVER YOU MEAN THAT WE SHOULD GO FURTHER AND BECOME SPOKESMEN EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY IN FAVOUR OF THE PROJECT GOING AHEAD, THEN MUST ADVISE THAT OUR DOING SO WOULD CAUSE A PUBLIC OUTCRY IN HONG KONG. THIS WOULD BE THE ONE CERTAIN WAY TO TRIGGER OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR A MOTION IN LEGCO TO THE OPPOSITE EFFECT, .E. WE WOULD BE ASKED TO CONVEY TO YOUR THE STRONG FEELING WHICH HAS NOW DEVELOPED HERE THAT NO NUCLEAR PLANT SHOULD BE BUILT SO CLOSE TO HONG KONG: AND THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE ASKED TO MOVE T.
5. INDEED WE SHALL BE FORTUNATE IF WE GET THROUGH THIS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITHOUT SUCH A MOTION. COMMUNITY PRESSURE ON LEGCO MEMBERS IS INCREASING. THE FACT THAT THE DEBATE ON JULY 16 WILL BE A DEBATE ON THE ADJOURNMENT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF A MOTHON HAVE GIVEN UP. THEIR TACTICS ARE APPARENTLY TO USE THE EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN, AND SUGGESTIONS THAT THE PLANT SHOULD BE MOVED, WHICH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EMERGE IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE AS THE BASIS FOR A MOTION LATER IN THE SESSION. THE SESSION DOES NOT FINISH UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.
Confidential