AUG 16 '86 11:36 TIB(OOU) HK GOVT
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conservative estimate would tell the chance of a serious accident would
be doubled. (3) One of the assumptions in the research is that the
residents of Hong Kong could evacuate the territory in large numbers. As regards the consequence if no evacuation is possible, another estimate
would have to be worked out and it could not be done until in Phase II.
(4) What the research group studied are typical western European nuclear
power plants, so in order to ascertain if the frequency of accidents is
applicable to the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, it is necessary to compare
the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant with the nuclear power plants in western
European to find out what equipment that the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant
has and what it does not have. But the research group has never asked the
Hong Kong Government for such information.
The papers which Ming Pao has obtained indicate that top-level officials of the Hong Kong Government are disappointed by Dr. Wade's reply. Director of the Royal Observatory P. SHAM said in a confidential memo of 28.5.86 that the replies to a number of questions were not satisfactory.
In another confidential memo the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services
G.J. Osborne said he was shocked that the reply of 7.5.86 made no mention
of the Chernobyi accident.
However, though being faced with the internal dissatisfaction and the pressure of public opinion, the Hong Kong Government is still not going to make public the assessment report of the British atomic energy bureau and keeps on stressing the safety measures of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. G.J. Osborne said in his confidential memo to the Secretary for Economic Services (page 2 of the memo reproduced) that 'We have in the past two weeks made a lot of reassuring statements (F.S.'s statements were reported in the Financial Times) but as far as I am aware, nobody in Government has seen in
writing the facts upon which these statements were based.'
The decision-making level were positive about the safety of the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant on 6.5.86, but the Economic Services Branch sent a telegraphic message to Dr. Wade on 9.5.86 asking him to send representatives to Hong Kong for discussions. Up to now, there is no news about the date of the research group's visit to Hong Kong. The Secretary for Economic Services J.F. Yaxley visited Harwell last month, and three government officials