SEP 05 '86 13:43 TIBCOOL) HK GOVT
A round-up of media reports on the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant 14.8.86 20.8.86
ALEGO 16!
Thursday, August 14: The Legco delegation led by Allen Lee returned to HK yesterday after a fact-finding mission to the United States and Japan, the electronic and print media reported prominently.
Mr Lee told a press conference at the airport that the aim of the visits was purely to gather facts. He said reports to be compiled by the Legco delegations had nothing to do with the signing of contracts between China and the French and British companies on the Daya Bay project.
He described as "ridiculous" suggestions that the Legco delegations' reports would influence China's decision on the project. However, he said they would try to complete their report as quickly as possible for submission to Legco.
According to some press reporte, Mr Lee believed that China would take into account their reports and the concerns of the people of HK.
Mr Lee rejected criticisms that the fact-finding teams heard too much pro-nuclear messages.
One of the delegates, Poon Chung-kwong, told the HK Daily News that after China and France signed the Daya Bay contracts, Framatome would provide the Chinese with two in-depth reports on the safety and environmental aspects of the project.
He added that if the Chinese side came to the conclusion that the reports failed to give an adequate assurance on safety, they had the right to terminate the contracts.
Sing Tao Jih Pao noted in its front-page lead that at the Legco adjournment debate on the Daya Bay issue last month, convenor of the Umelco public utilities panel, Maria Tam, had requested the Guangdong Nuclear Power Joint Venture Company not to sign any Daya Bay contract before Legco members came to a decision based on information they collected.
A Chinese University lecturer, Joseph Cheng, told Radio-1 that China would attach great importance to the reports compiled by the Legco delegates as well as views by the anti-nuclear coalition.
Mr Cheng said he agreed with Umelco member Allen Lee's remark that China's decision on the project would not be influenced by the Legco reports on their fact-finding missions. However, he believed that China would be more cautious in assessing the safety aspect of the plant.