CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT'S OBSERVATIONS:
61760
1.
(D)
(E)
(F)
AS THE CHINESE MAY BE AWARE MS MARIA TAM AND MR ALLEN
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 1760
GUANGDONG
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NED
TRED
PUSD(MR CROWLEY) WED
PS
PS/MR RENTON PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR DAUNT
MR WILSON MR SLATER
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
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2. CONFIDENTIAL