SEP 05 '86 15:14 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT
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When asked about the assurances given by the Chinese authorities on the safety aspects of the plant, the Governor said: "I think they are very important assurances, the ones which they did give me while I was there. They were given to me at a very senior level."
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On a suggestion of a special Legco meeting to debate the Daya Bay issue, the Governor said that he was waiting for the outcome of the in-house meeting of the Legislative Councillors on that issue, which would be held today.
Media reports noted that apart from discussing whether to hold a special sitting to debate the Daya Bay issue, Legco Unofficials would also talk about the report by Legco's nuclear fact-finding missious and matters relating to China's invitation to Legco missions to visit, Peking.
RTHK and some papers reported that leaders of the Legco missions confirmed that they had received from the NCNA HK branch yesterday morning a formal invitation to visit Peking on September 18 to exchange views with Chinese officials on their report.
Radio-l and a number of papers, including Tin Tin Daily News, Sing Pao, the HK Commercial Daily, Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, quoted one of the delegation leaders, Allen Lee, as saying that the invitation had two important implications. One was that it showed that China recognised the organisation of Legco, and the other was that the Chinese authorities concerned had attached a degree of importance to the Legco missions' report.
He was worried that their suggestions on the guarantee of cheap nuclear energy and the setting up of an emergency contingency centre' within the plant would not be accepted by China as the proposed centre would involve an additional cost of US$50 million.
Another delegation leader, Maria Tan, said on RTHK's "Workman This Week" aired on TVB-Pearl last night that she would tell Chinese officials in Peking that HK people were very concerned about the Daya Bay issue.
She added that it would be better if the Chinese Government would shelve the project, but if they would not do so, she would ask them to ensure the safety of the plant.
Some press reports said that Miss Tam and Martin Lee, another panelist on the programme, had a heated debate over the Daya Bay issue. The papers also carried remarks by both Legco members on various aspects relating to the Daya Bay project and on nuclear energy.
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