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WITH THE FRENCH AND THE JVC, IT SEEMS THAT THESE ASSUMPTIONS
MIGHT NEED TO BE ALTERED, THEN THE WHOLE FIELD OF THE CONSULTANCY
MIGHT BECOME FAR WIDER REACHING THAN WE HAVE UP TO NOW SUPPOSED.
MUCH WILL DEPEND ON WHAT WE CAN LEARN ABOUT CHINESE PLANS FOR
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL INSPECTION AND CONTROL CAPABILITY. THE
ANNOUNCEMENT REPORTED IN PEKING TELNO 1131 IS RELEVANT TO THIS.
UKAEA POINT OUT THAT, EVEN IF THE JVC ENSURES THAT
INTERNATIONALLY APPROVED STANDARDS OF STAFFING (EXPERIENCE,
TRAINING ETC) ARE APPLIED, THE EXPERTISE AND GENERAL APPROACH OF
NATIONAL INSPECTION AUTHORITIES CAN MAKE AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE
TO THE WAY THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE AREA OF SAFETY. WE MIGHT
NEED TO SEEK THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BRITISH NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS
INSPECTORATE IN THE CONSULTANCY FOR THE VISIT TO CHINA.
3.
OUR PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ARE THAT THE UKAEA EXPERTS WOULD
INDEED GO TO CHINA AS PART OF THEIR CONSULTANCY FOR HKG, AND THAT
WE WOULD EXPECT THEM TO REPORT AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO THE
BEST OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL ABILITY TO YOU. (WE MIGHT, OF COURSE,
DECIDE IN THE LIGHT OF THE REPORT THAT WE WISHED TO ESTABLISH A
REGULAR LINE OF LIAISON WITH THE CHINESE WITH A VIEW TO KEEPING
UP THE PRESSURE ON THEM TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE SATISFACTORY
INSPECTION/CONTROL PROCEDURES, AND TO PRESENT THIS IN AS
FAVOURABLE A LIGHT AS POSSIBLE TO UMELCO AND THE PUBLIC. BUT IT
IS CLEARLY ESSENTIAL THAT YOU, AND WE, SHOULD KNOW AS ACCURATELY
AS POSSIBLE HOW THINGS REALLY ARE.) FOR PRESENTATION TO THE
CHINESE. THE UKAEA PEOPLE WOULD BE VISITING CHINA AS BRITISH
EXPERTS AT THE INVITATION OF THE CHINESE AS PART OF AN AGREED
PROCESS TO REASSURE HONG KONG OPINION.
4.
WE SHALL BE DRAWING UP DRAFT TERMS OF REFERENCE HERE OVER
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND SHALL CONSULT YOU ABOUT THEM IN DUE
COURSE. WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO INVOLVE YAXLEY IN THIS WHILE HE IS
HERE, IF OUR THINKING HAS GOT FAR ENOUGH BY THEN. UKAEA DO NOT
BELIEVE THEY COULD MOUNT THE VISIT TO CHINA IN ANY CASE BEFORE
THE END OF THE SUMMER, BECAUSE OF OTHER COMMITMENTS AND, IN
PARTICULAR, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES IN VIENNA. BUT WE WOULD
HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE WELL IN ADVANCE THAT THE VISIT WOULD
TAKE PLACE SO AS TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM OF ANNOUNCEMENTS TO
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