CONFIDENTIAL
62024
1
(E)
(F)
LEE, THE LEADERS OF THE LEGCO PANEL GROUPS, VISITED LONDON WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FROM
9-12 SEPTEMBER. THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY 10 DOWNING
STREET GIVES THE ESSENCE OF THE DISCUSSIONS HELD WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER MINISTERS ON DAYA BAY:
CAN SAY (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) IN CONFIDENCE THAT
MINISTERS TOLD EXCO THAT, ON THE BASIS OF OUR CONTACTS
WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT ARE APPROACHING THE QUESTION OF SAFETY
WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS. THEY EXPRESSED THE
CONFIDENCE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT EVERY EFFORT
WOULD BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION
AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANT WOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO THE
HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS:
WE HOPE THAT THIS IMPORTANT ASSURANCE FROM MINISTERS WILL
HAVE A HELPFUL IMPACT ON OPINION IN HONG KONG, AS THE
PUBLICATION OF THE LEGCO REPORT HAS ALREADY DONE. THE
FORTHCOMING VISIT TO PEKING REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY FOR CHINA TO REINFORCE THIS BY DEMONSTRATING
TO HONG KONG PEOPLE BOTH ITS ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY
ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, AND ITS RESPONSIVENESS TO THEIR
CONCERNS. VERY MUCH HOPE FULL ADVANTAGE WILL BE TAKEN OF
THIS OPPORTUNITY, SO AS TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE
CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.
HOWE
OCMIAN 2024
GUANGDONG
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
LIMITED
HKD
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CONFIDENTIAL