SEP 05 '86 14:58 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT
At a press conference yesterday, FS Piers Jacobs reiterated that the Government would not withdraw its support for the project because HK's credibility could be severely damaged.
He added that if Legco rejected Exco's approval of China Light's participation in the project, a constitutional problem would arise.
Speaking on Radio-1's "HK Beat" today, a spokesman for the anti-nuclear group, Fung Chi-wood, called on the Government to conduct a detailed survey on public opinion towards the Daya Bay issue and undertake to reflect these views to the Chinese Government,
Editorially, the Express said it would be regrettable if the Government had refused to call a special Legco sitting to discuss the Daya Bay issue for fear that Peking would be offended.
Holding a different view, Sing Pao said that the Government's stand did not show that it had no regard for public opinion. It felt that a special Legco session was not the only channel for the expression of public opinion.
The paper added that there were practical difficulties in calling a special Legco sitting because many members were out of town.
Ching Po said that the anti-nuclear lobbyists should consider their Peking mission completed because they had reflected to Peking people's concern over nuclear safety and Peking had pledged to attach great importance to the safety aspect of the nuclear plant.
The Standard said in an editorial that failure to hold a public debate on this vital issue at this time could only be construed as an attempt to circumvent normal democratic procedures. It believed that the Governor should allow the debate to go on.
Sunday, August 24: The war of words between Maria Tam and Martin Lee on the Daya Bay issue was prominently reported in the media today.
The Governor, Sir Edward Youde, told reporters at the airport yesterday on his return from leave that he thought that the Chinese officials were quite likely to ask him about the state of opinion on Daya Bay in HK during his visit to Peking this week and that he would do his best to give them an appreciation of that.
Speaking to reporters in Xiamen, BLDC member Sanford Yung said it was now too late to oppose the construction of the Daya Bay plant. However, he believed that the strong feelings expressed in HK would make the Chinese authorities pay greater attention to the safety aspect.
P.7