OCMIAN 6790
CONFIDENTIAL
00 PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
151600Z AUG
GRS 305
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1573 1753
OF 15160OZ AUGUST 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
MICK 160/1
ROTENEQIP
18 AUG 1986
CONFIDENTIAL-
TO
442
56790
-
1
PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM LAYDEN
NUCLEAR SAFETY: PROPOSED VISIT OF LORD MARSHALL, CHAIRMAN OF THE
CENTRAL ELECTRICITY BOARD (CEGB)
1.
LORD MARSHALL HAS WRITTEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
ENERGY PROPOSING THAT EN ROUTE TO TOKYO AT THE END OF OCTOBER HE
SHOULD STOP OFF IN HONG KONG TO GIVE ONE OR MORE LECTURES OR
SEMINARS AIMED AT REASSURING HONG KONG PEOPLE REGARDING THE RISKS
POSED BY THE DAYA BAY PROJECT.
2.
LORD MARSHALL IS OF COURSE INFLUENTIAL AND HIS VISIT TO
HONG KONG, EVEN AS LATE AS END-OCTOBER, MIGHT HELP TO REINFORCE
THE SHIFT IN PUBLIC OPINION WHICH NOW APPEARS TO BE UNDER WAY.
HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS PRO-PWR STANCE AND HIS VISIT MIGHT BE SEEN AS
A USEFUL SIGN OF UK'S WISH TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF REASSURING
HONG KONG PEOPLE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO A RISK THAT THE DAYA
BAY LOBBY (IF THEN STILL ACTIVE) MAY BE ABLE TO CAST DOUBT ON HIS
CREDENTIALS, GIVEN THAT NEITHER CEGB, NOR UK AS A WHOLE, HAS ANY
DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF PWRS. HIS VISIT
MIGHT ALSO STIMULATE A DIFFICULT DEBATE IN HONG KONG ABOUT
SIZEWELL B RATHER THAN A CONSTRUCTIVE ONE ABOUT DAY BAY.
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CONFIDENTIAL
13.