Hong
(644)
RECEIVED IN PSL.
8 OCT 1986
Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe'>"QC"" 'MP": Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Downing Street
SW1A 2AL
12 September 1986
Dear Sir Geoffrey Howe,
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Kong LINK
22 Coleman Fields,
London N1 7AF, UK.
DA
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I am writing to you, on behalf of Hong Kong Link, about the nuclear plant which the Chinese government plans to construct at Daya Bay.
Ce 1899
We have been asked by organisations in Hong Kong to draw your attention to the strength of local feeling on this issue, particularly in view of the recent disaster at Chernobyl. You will be aware that over one million people in Hong Kong have signed a petition asking the Chinese Government to reconsider the project, and local anxiety has been rising again in view of the Chinese government's apparent determination to press ahead, without offering any further public review of the issues, A new petition is to be presented this weekend.
We recognise that the decision essentially concerns the Chinese government. Nevertheless, Britain has a significant interest in the project, through the participation of GEC, and the Hong Kong government has given important undertakings with regard to Daya Bay, thereby in effect supporting the project.
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who
We are therefore writing to emphasise that, in our view, failure at this time to give proper account to the feelings of Hong Kong's people have never expressed so much concern about a single issue
may have very serious effects on public confidence. Before commissioning new nuclear installations, the British government has accepted the principle that there should be a public inquiry and wide consultation. In this instance, what is at issue is not just a very reasonable anxiety about the safety of the Daya Bay station, but the credibility of the new relationship which China is trying to establish with Hong Kong.
May we appeal to you to emphasise the significance of public concern over this issue in relevant discussions with the Chinese government, and also to make it known that the British government accepts the principle that information should be made available to the public, in view of the fundamental importance of the safety issues. We would hope that the British government would also agree that no contracts should be signed until formal and careful consultations have taken place, which satisfy public opinion that full and proper consideration has been given to all safety aspects.
Yours sincerely, Lo Chi Kin
Lo Chi Kin