OCMIAN 0078
CONFIDENTIAL
DD 04010OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
03170OZ SEP
GRS 678
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 040100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1878
OF 03170OZ SEPTEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PARIS,
HLL
166/1
CONFIDENTIAL
d
PEKING
MIPT: DAYA BAY: EXCO VISIT TO LONDON
34
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
60078 1
-
FOLLOWING IS OUR REVISED DRAFT LINE FOR UK MINISTERS.
BEGINS
1.
WE APPRECIATE THAT EXCO AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE
LOOKING TO HMG FOR ASSURANCES ABOUT THE DAYA BAY PROJECT.
2.
AS PART OF ITS OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGES ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY
OF ITS PEOPLE. IT IS DETERMINED TO DISCHARGE THIS RESPONSIBILITY
FULLY AND SERIOUSLY.
3.
WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE DEBATE IN HONG KONG ON DAYA BAY
CLOSELY AND IN GREAT DETAIL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BEGINNING
WITH THE VISIT OF HU YAOBANG TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IN JUNE,
MINISTERS AND OUR AMBASSADOR IN PEKING HAVE STRESSED TO CHINESE
MINISTERS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS THE NEED TO BE ALIVE TO THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY, AND TO TAKE STEPS TO ALLAY
THEIR FEARS. I CAN THEREFORE REASSURE EXCO THAT WE HAVE CONSCIENTIOUSLY CARRIED OUT OUR RESPONSIBLITY TO THE PEOPLE OF
HONG KONG IN CONVEYING TO THE CHINESE THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE
EXPRESSED.
4.
YOU WILL UNDERSTAND NO ONE CAN GIVE AN ASSURANCE THAT
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CONFIDENTIAL