CONFIDENTIAL
BY THE UMELCO STUDY GROUPS.
54597
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B.
7.
INVITATION TO CHINESE NUCLEAR EXPERTS
IT IS OF COURSE ESSENTIALLY FOR THE FRENCH TO DEMONSTRATE
THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE PLANT WHICH THEY ARE TO SUPPLY, AND FOR
THE CHINESE TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
SAFETY REGIME. WE ARE HOWEVER CONSIDERING HOW WE MIGHT HELP THE
CHINESE IN THIS TASK. WE THINK THAT THIS COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED
BY INVITING A GROUP OF CHINESE EXPERTS TO THE UK. WE ENVISAGE THAT
THEY MIGHT SPEND FIVE WORKING DAYS IN THE UK, OF WHICH ABOUT ONE
AND A HALF DAYS WOULD BE WITH THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS
INSPECTORATE (NII), AND THE BALANCE WITH CEGB AND THE SAFETY AND
RELIABILITY DIRECTORATE OF UKAEA. ALL THESE BODIES HAVE AGREED IN
PRINCIPLE TO RECEIVE SUCH A GROUP. SUCH A PROGRAMME WOULD ENABLE
THE CHINESE TO GAIN DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF UK SAFETY AND
REGULATORY PROCEDURES, AND TO DISCUSS ANY PROBLEMS THEY WISHED TO
RAISE IN THESE AREAS.
8.
SUBJECT TO PEKING'S VIEWS, WE PROPOSE THAT THE INVITATION
FOR SUCH A VISIT SHOULD BE ISSUED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE
ANGLO-CHINESE NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT. WE WOULD NEED TO
TRY TO GIVE THE INVITATION THE BROAD SCOPE AND POLITICAL
SIGNIFICANCE ENVISAGED FOR COOPERATION UNDER THE AGREEMENT AS
WELL AS TO MEET OUR MORE NARROW PRACTICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL
NEEDS CONNECTED WITH THE DAYA BAY PROJECT. WE THINK THERE SHOULD
BE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO MEET THE COSTS OF GIVING CATEGORY I VISITOR
TREATMENT TO A REASONABLY SIZED DELEGATION (SAY UP TO SIX).
11.
AS TO TIMING, NII SUGGEST THAT
BECAUSE OF PRESSURE OF OTHER WORK THE VISIT SHOULD TAKE
PLACE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. THESE DATES WOULD ALSO BE
CONVENIENT FOR THE COI. THIS TIMING IS ACCEPTABLE TO US, BUT WE
SHOULD LIKE TO BE IN A POSITION TO ANNOUNCE THE VISIT FAR SOONER:
AN IDEAL TIME TO DO THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE AROUND THE TIME OF THE
LEGCO DEBATES ON THE UMELCO PANEL VISITS OVERSEAS.
10.
WE SUGGEST THAT EDF (OR SCSN/IPSN, AS APPROPRIATE) MIGHT
ORGANISE A VISIT TO FRANCE BY THE CHINESE EXPERTS EITHER BEFORE
OR AFTER THEIR VISIT TO UK. THIS WOULD COVER THE SAME SORT OF
GROUND AS IN THE UK, BUT OF COURSE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOW CHINA
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CONFIDENTIAL