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CEGB AND SAFETY AND RELIABILITY DIRECTORATE OF UKA EA. ALSO READY
TO CONSIDER OTHER AREAS WHERE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FEEL THAT UK
EXPERIENCE MIGHT ASSIST THEM IN DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE AND
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED NUCLEAR SAFETY REGIME. MOST
CONVENIENT IF VISIT WAS PLANNED FOR JANUARY OR FEBRUARY NEXT
YEAR: BUT WOULD BE PRESENTATIONALLY HELPFUL, IN CONTEXT OF OUR
COOPERATION OVER DAYA BAY, IF INVITATION AND CHINESE ACCEPTANCE
OF IT COULD BE MADE PUBLIC MUCH EARLIER. SUBJECT TO FURTHER
DISCUSSION WITH CHINESE SIDE, SUGGEST ANNOUNCEMENT MIGHT BEST BE
MADE IN SEPTEMBER. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES MAY WISH TO EXTEND
THE VISIT OF EXPERTS SO THAT THEY GO ON TO FRANCE AND TO THE IAEA
IN VIENNA.
7.
WE ARE AWARE THAT CHINESE NUCLEAR EXPERTS WILL BE
VISITING COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IN OCTOBER, ́AT
INVITATION OF COMMISSION, TO STUDY NUCLEAR SAFETY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PROGRAMME, AND MAKING IT A
SUCCESSFUL ONE.
8.
WE SHOULD BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER WITH CHINESE AUTHORITIES
HOW THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COOPERATION OVER TRAINING AND
EDUCATION MIGHT BE USED TO HELP TO MEET THEIR NEEDS IN THE FIELD
OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.
9.
BELIEVE THAT ACTION BY BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS
DESCRIBED ABOVE WILL HELP TO REASSURE HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT
SAFETY ASPECTS OF DAYA BAY PLANT. IN THAT CONNECTION, GRATEFUL
FOR ZHOU NAN'S INDICATION THAT A SHORT POSTPONEMENT OF CONTRACT
SIGNATURE COULD BE CONSIDERED IF ADVANTAGEOUS. ENVISAGED TIMING
ACCORDS WITH OUR THINKING. APPRECIATION THAT PUBLICATION OF UNGLLO
SHOULD BE OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE CONTRACT SIGNNATURE.
10.
OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS. DEFENSIVE ONLY. CLOSE SQUARE
BRACKETS. IT WILL BE CLEAR TO CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE
DOING ALL WE CAN, IN COOPERATION WITH FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND
THEMSELVES, TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN BE REASSURED ON
SAFETY ASPECTS OF DAYA BAY PROJECT. SUPPORT OF BRITISH
GOVERNMENT FOR PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, IN CONDITIONS
WHERE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS ARE OBSERVED, IS WELL KNOWN.
MR WALKER SAID TO ENGINEERING EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION ON 28 JUNE:
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