SPECIFIC POINTS:
CONFIDENTIAL
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(I)
RAVIER AGREED TO
EXAMINE AND REPORT
BENJAMIN WILL
PROPOSED EXHIBITIOR IN HONG KONG:
ASK EDF'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE JVC TO
BACK ON THE CONTENT OF THE EXHIBITION.
SUGGEST THE SAME TO STONES. THIS SHOULD PROVIDE A FURTHER
CHECK ON ITS SUITABILITY FOR A HONG KONG AUDIENCE.
(II) CONTINUING FRENCH INVOLVEMENT IN OPERATION OF THE
PLANT: RAVIER SAID THAT THE FRENCH RECOGNISED THE LIKELY
NEED FOR A PERIOD OF COLLABORATION BEYOND THE SIX MONTHS
ENVISAGED IN EDF'S CURRENT CONTRACT. HOWEVER SUCH
COLLABORATION WOULD NEED TO TAKE PLACE UNDER THE AUSPICES
OF THE SINO-FRENCH NUCLEAR CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT, AND THE
AGREEMENT WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED TO PERMIT IT. THE
FRENCH DID NOT INTEND TO RAISE THIS PRIOR TO CONTRACT
SIGNATURE. THEY WERE STILL NERVOUS ABOUT APPEARING TO
QUESTION CHINESE CAPABILITIES. IN ADDITION THEY FELT THAT
ZHOU PING HAD CLEARLY ASCRIBED DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES
TO THE FRENCH AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS: THE BRITISH SHARED
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CALMING HONG KONG, WHEREAS THE
FRENCH HAD THE JOB OF COMPLETING THE PLANT. WE TOOK ISSUE
WITH THIS ANALYSIS, POINTING OUT THAT THE FRENCH, AS VENDORS
OF THE NUCLEAR ISLAND, HAD AN ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE
TO ALL ASPECTS OF NUCLEAR SAFETY, AND THUS HONG NG'S
CONCERNS. IF THE FRENCH INTENDED TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS
UNDER THEIR NUCLEAR CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT, IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR THIS TO BE KNOWN PRIOR TO CONTRACT SIGNATURE.
RAVIER ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ANO SUGGESTED WE SHOULD TAKE THE
POINT UP FORMALLY WITH THE RELEVANT PART OF THE QUAI D'ORSAY
WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERNATIONAL NLCLEAR MATTERS.
WE ARE CONSULTING INTERESTED DEPARTMERTS ON THIS SUGGESTION
WHICH AT FIRST SIGHT SEEMS ONE TO BE PURSUED. AS PART OF
THE PROCESS, WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR VIEWS.
(III) WE ALSO MENTIONED OUR WISH TO TAP THE CEA'S INFORMA-
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CONFIDENTIAL
ITION.