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SAID THE PROBLEM WAS LARGELY ONE OF IGNORANCE. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WERE UNAWARE OF HOW SAFE NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS REALLY WERE. THE PROBLEM SPRANG MORE FROM THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCE OF THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER THAN OF ANY EVIDENCE OF A LACK OF SAFETY MEASURES AT DAYA BAY. THIS WAS TRUE EVEN OF SOME MEMBERS OF THELEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. BRITAIN AND CHINA AND ESPECIALLY THE HONG KONG COVERNMENT COULD DO MUCH TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THIS RESPECT.
10. AS TO FURTHER PUBLICITY, HE RAISED NO OBJECTION TO MY PROPOAL. INDEED HE SUGGESTED THAT WE MIGHT SAY IN EXPLICIT TERMS THAT IN FUTURE GREAT ATTENTION WOULD BE PAID TO SAFETY AND QUALITY. IT WAS CLEAR FROM MEETINGS DURING HU YAODANG'S RECENT VISIT TO LONDON THAT LEADERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT AND THIS SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR TO THE PRESS. HE CONFIRMED THAT IN RESPONSE TO LORD KADOOR IE'S TELEX TO HIM, THE CHINESE HAD AGREED TO THE RELEASE OF THOSE PARTS OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WHICH WERE NOT COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE.
11. I AGAIN UNDERTOOK TO REPORT, EMPHASING THE NEED FOR OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH.
12. WE ARE BRIEFING THE FRENCH EMBASSY.
13. ALL THIS OF COURSE WILL HAVE A BEARING ON WHAT WILSON SAYS TO KE ZAISHUO IN THE MARGINS OF JLG IV.
EVANS
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PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
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MR DAUNT MR WILSON MR SLATER
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