GRS 1400
CONFIDENT-HAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMED HATE FCO
TELNO 1936
OF 23015OZ JUNE 86
CONFIDENTIAL
OF COPY
¡INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, PARIS, DTIN, UKDEL PAEA WIENNA
OUR TELNO 1902: NUCLEAR SAFETY: CHWA
WE HAVE ALREADY ADVISED YOU IN OUR TELNO 1822 THAT WE BELIEVE WE NEED A LONG TERM STRATEGY DESIGNED TO ALLAY PUBLIC FEARS N HONG KONG ABOUT DAYA BAY. THESE FEARS ARE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY AND WILL FROM TIME TO TIME BUBBLE UP AND PERHAPS EVEN BON OVER.
2. THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE WE AS A GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO ALLAY PUBLIC FEAR. WE HAVE NO DIRECT HÄNVOLVEMENT IN THE PROJECT AND DAYA BAY IT'S NOT IN OUR TERRITORY. MOREVOER, WE HAVE NO NUCLEAR EXPERTISE AND WE CANNOT DE AL ADEQUATELY WITH THE QUESTIONS AND WORRIES THAT ARE BEING RAISED.
NOR SHOULD WE, SINCE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALLAYING THESE FEARS
MUST REST MAINLY WITH THE CHINESE AND ALSO WHTH THE BRITISH AND
FRENCH GOVERNMENTS. WE SEE IT AS ESSENTIAL THAT A STRATEGY WHICH
DIRECTLY INVOLVES THESE THREE GOVERNMENTS IS #MPLEMENTED AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. THE HONG KONG PUBLIC URGENTLY NEED TO SEE THAT
SOMETHING IS BEING DONE ON THEIR BEHALF BY THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS POWER STATION.
·
3. THE EXPRESSIONS OF AGREEMENT BY HU, LH PENG AND ZHOU NẠN IN
LONDON THAT THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD COOPERATE
TO ALLAY THE FEARS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT DAYA BAY PROVIDE A USEFUL AND TIMELY BASIS ON WHICH WE CAN BUILD A STRATEGY AND DEV-MSE TACTICS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
4. HKG'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THE SAME AS THOSE OF ANY METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY WHERE A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IS BUILT NEAR HTS TERRITORY .E.
(A) TO ENSURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THAT THOSE INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND OPERATING THE PLANT (IP.E. THE CHINESE AND FRENCH) MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS:
(B) TO DEVPSE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
THESE TWO PARTS COMPRISE OUR STRATEGY. WITH REGARD TO (A) WE CONSIDER THAT ENT WOULD BE FOR THE BRITSH GOVERNMENT TO TALK TO THE CHINESE AND FRENCH ON OUR BEHALF. WE SHOULD AIM TO ENCOURAGE THESE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAMME OF MEASURES THAT WOULD HELP TO RE-ASSURE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE #IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAMME .E. OUR TACTICS ARE OUTLINED BELOW UNDER PART ONE. THE SECOND PART (B) COVERS THE HARWELL CONSULTANCY AND YAXLEY'S IMPENDING VISHT TO LONDON TO GAEN
KNFORMATION ABOUT CORVIN CONTINGENCY PLANNING.
CONFIDENTIAL
/PART