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40 THE SCHEDULED PRESS BRIEFING CHAIRED BY THE ACTING SENIOR LEGCO UNOFFICIAL WAS HELD AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE CONVENED BY THE OPPOSING GROUP. DURING THE MEETING, MR. S.L. CHEN ANNOUNCED THE DECISIONS MADE AT THE IN-HOUSE MEETING. MISS MARHA TAM MADE A LONG SPEECH IN WHICH SHE STRESSED THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR ON 2 SEPTEMBER ABOUT THE TIMING OF CONTRACT-SIGNING MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE DAYA BAY PROJECT WAS A FANT ACCOMPLN. SHE SAID THAT T WOULD NOT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF HK PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR THE SCRAPPING OF THE PROJECT OR TO HOLD A FULL LEGCO DEBATE THAT MIGHT LEAD TO A POLITICAL CONFRONTATION WHITH BEIJING. THE LEGCO AND THE PEOPLE IN HK SHOULD NOW TAKE A REALISTIC STAND AND ACCEPT THAT THE PLANT WOULD BE BUILT. THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK AHEAD WAS TO PRESS FOR BETTER SAFETY ASSURANCES. SHE STRESSED THAT IT WAS NOT A TIME FOR A LEGCO DEBATE THAT MIGHT RESULT IN DEEP SPLITS AMONG LEGCO MEMBERS, A SPLIT BETWEEN EXCO AND LEGCO, A SPLIT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGCO AND EVEN A SPLIT AMONG VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.
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