407
GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2561
OF 08020OZ AUGUST 86
Hill 106/1
RECEIVED IM
7 AUG 1986
EN Lİ
SOORTHY
Confidential
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
INFO PRIORITY DEPT OF ENERGY, PEKING, PARIS
(ACA)
OUR TELNO 2547
CHINA
CHINA : NUCLEAR SAFETY
NN PARAGRAPH 4 OF OUR TUR WE PROMISED IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR
OVERALL STRATEGY TO ALLAY FEARS SOME SUGGESTIONS REGARDING A
GREATER ROLE FOR HAEA #N CHINESE NUCLEAR MATTERS.
2. AS YOU WILL RECALL THE STRATEGY OUTLINED IN OUR TELNO 1936 D1-D
NOT ENVISAGE ANY PARTICULAR ROLE FOR MAEA OTHER THAN THAT UKDEL
SHOULD BE ASKED TO KEEP US INFORMED OF AEA DISCUSSIONS ON
CHERNOBYL. FOLLOWING YAXLEY'S DISCUSSIONS WITH MORPHET (DEN) AND
IN PARTICULAR GORDON (NED/FCO) IT MAY BE THAT WE SHOULD OVER THME
ATTEMPT TO SEEK A GREATER ROLE FOR AEA IN CHINESE NUCLEAR
MATTERS IN PARTICULAR IN RESPECT OF AUDITS OF THEIR NUCLEAR ENERGY
PROGRAMME. FOR EXAMPLE CHINA MIGHT BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT OPERATIONAL
SAFETY ASSESSMENT TEAMS. IT IS APPRECIATED HOWEVER THAT (A) CHINA
HAS NOT YET AGREED TO MAKE A VOLUNTARY OFFER TO HAVE HER NUCLEAR
INSTALLATIONS VISH TED BY AEA, (B) IN ANY CASE THE VISITS WOULD
UNDER PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS BE CONCERNED ONLY WITH CHECKING AGAINST
UNAUTHORISED DIVERSION OF FUEL AND NOT WITH SAFETY AUD HT AND (C)
SUCH VISITS ARE ONLY MADE ON A VERY IRREGULAR BASIS. NEVERTHELESS
THEY HAVE CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC RELATION ADVANTAGES AND WOULD APPEAL
TO UMELCO AND THE PUBLIC. GORDON SUGGESTED THAT A MORE PRACTICAL
APPROACH MIGHT BE FOR AEA TO MOUNT A SPECIAL AD HOC EFFORT
DISGUISED IN THE FORM OF AND TO CHINA AS A COUNTRY REQUIRING
ASSISTANCE WITH ITS NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAMME. HE INDICATED THAT
THIS APPROACH COULD IN SOME WAY YET TO BE DETERMINED BY FCO/DEN
BE CAUGT UP IN A UK INITIATIVE TO BE MADE AT THE PAEA MINISTERIAL
MEETING IN SEPTEMBER IN RESPECT OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION »IN
NUCLEAR SAFETY MATTERS.
Confidential
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