GRS 300
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2327
OF 180445Z JULY 86
SECRET COS/1
MCIC 166/
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, PARES
18 JUL1986
1309
X
273
YOUR TELNO. 1443
6286
226
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR SAFETY
1216€
YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM OUR REPORTING TELEGRAMS (TELSNOS. 2124, 2144, 2162, 2278) THAT PUBLIC ANXIETY AND DISQUIET OVER THE DAYA
BAY PROJECT REMAIN HIGH. DESPITE VERY DETAILED EXPLANATIONS GIVEN
BY JVC ENGINEERS, PEOPLE ARE FAR FROM CONVINCED THAT AN ACCEDENT IN THE PLANT WILL NOT AFFECT HONG KONG. ALMOST ALL LEGCO MEMBERS
WHO SPOKE *N THE DEBATE WERE CRITICAL OR AT THE VERY LEAST DOUBTFUL
OF THE PROJECT.
2. THE VIEW HERE REMAINS THAT IF THE CHINESE WERE TO GO AHEAD, THERE WILL BE A PRICE TO BE PAND IN TERMS OF CONFIDENCE PARTICULARLY IN THE
EARLY 1990S. ANOTHER NUCLEAR PLANT ACCIDENT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
AT ANY TIME DURING THE BUILDING AND OPERATION OF THE PLANT MAY MAKE OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT UNCONTAINABLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE OBVIOUS POLITICAL BENEFITS TO BE GAINED IF THE PROJECT WERE TO
BE MOVED FURTHER AWAY OR CONVERTED UNTO A CONVENTIONAL STATION.
3. › BELIEVE THAT IF THIS ISSUE WERE TO BE RAISED WITH THE CHINESE AT JLG IV, WE SHOULD PUT OVER THE POINTS MADE IN PARA. 2 ABOVE. SUGGEST TOO A NEW PARA. (D) TO TUR ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
**THE ISSUE NOW IS MORE THAN ONE OF SAFETY. IT IS LIKELY THAT AFTER ALL THE EFFORTS TO REASSURE, DOUBTS WILL REMAIN. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CAREFULLY OBSERVING REACTION ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD
CHERNOBYL. AN ACCIDENT IN ANOTHER PLANT EVEN ON A SMALL SCALE WOULD
PRODUCE A STRONG REACTION IN HONG KONG. WORPHES WILL RE-EMERGE AND
CONFIDENCE BE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED ON THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THE
COMMISSIONING OF THE STATION.
AKERS-JONES
GUANGDONG
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NED
TRED
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
PB.
PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR DAUNT
MR WILSON
MR SLATER
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
SECRET