SEP 05 86 14:56 TIBCOOU) HK GOWT
However, another Unofficial, Allen Lee, said that it would not be right for HK to withdraw from the project while asking China to keep its promise to adhere to the Joint Declaration.
Mr Lee was quoted by ATV-C as saying that the Legco missions' report would not recommend a stand for Legco to take on the Daya bay plant. The report would however make recommendations to both the HK and Chinese Governments on the safety and training aspects.
In other developments, the desk officer at the FCO's HK Department, David Barton, yesterday met three Umelco members and discussed the Daya Bay issue. Mr Barton said Britain was prepared to advise China on nuclear safety and contingency planning if the country asked for advice on these areas.
In a statement, Legco Unofficial Tam Yiu-chung said that while there might not be a need for an evacuation plan for HK, that did not mean that HK did not require any contingency plan at all. Therefore, the Chinese side or the JVC should consider in conjunction with HK the formation of a contingency plan.
The HK Observers, in a position paper issued yesterday, called on the Chinese authorities to relocate the Daya Bay plant.
According to the South China Morning Post, an authoritative report compiled by the World Bank warns the Chinese that they might not have enough experts to embark on a large-scale nuclear energy programme. It
and warned said the price of a breakdown could be extremely costly
that the falling price of coal and oil meant nuclear power might no longer be the cheapest option. However, the report said China might be justified in building a few nuclear units under certain
circumstances.
The HK Standard quoted Legislative Councillor Tam Yiu-chung as saying that China Light should invite local experts to challenge the feasibility study for the Daya Bay plant at public hearings. Mr Tam issued a press release noting that the information already released a month ago had failed to bring about rational discussion.
Editorially, Wen Wei Po said China did respect public opinion on the Daya Bay issue, otherwise it would not have sent Mr Li Hou to meet the anti-nuclear lobbyists and receive the signatures.
The paper added that if the aim of the signature campaign was to halt the project rather than to ensure safety, then no matter how safe the Daya Bay plant would be, the lobbyists would still want the project shelved. This probably was not the wishes of those who signed up in the signature drive.
P.3