GRS 300
UNCLASSIFIED
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 2308COZ FCO
TELNO 1746
OF 2307432 SEPTEMBER 06
INFO [IMEDIATE HONG KONG-
11038
623
NICK 166/.1.
23 SEP 1936
YOUR TELNO 1348: LEGCO VISIT TO PEKING
630
1. THE DELEGATION DID NOT CONTACT THE EMBASSY. WE THOUGHT IT INAPPROPRIATE FOR US TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM. OUR INFORMATION IS THEREFORE BASED ON PRESS REPORTS IN THE CHINESE AND ELNCLISH
LANGUAGE PRESS.
2. PEOPLE'S DAILY OF 18 SEPTEMBER REPORTED THE ARRIVAL OF THE GROUP AND QUOTED MARIA TAM AND ALLEN LEE TO HAVE SAID WE WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE RELEVANT PEOPLE ON THE CHINESE SIDE, AND TO DISCUSS PERSONALLY WITH THEM THE VERY IMPORTANT MATTER OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR REACTOR IN DAYA RAT''.
3. THE GROUP'S MEETING ON 13 SEPTEMBER WITH ZHOU PING, VICE MINISTER OF NUCLEAR INDUSTRY AND DEPUTY HEAD OF THE STATE COUNCIL NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS LEADING GROUP, WS REPOPTED FULLY. ZHOU SAID THE LEGCO GROUP'S 23 POINT REPORT WAS POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE. THE CHINESE EXPERTS WERE STUDYING IT AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WOULD ''DO ITS UTMOST TO ADOPT THE OPINIONS, AS LONG AS THEY WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE SAFETY OF THE NUCLEAR POWER STATION AND TECHNICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE.'' HE SAID THAT SAFETY COULD BE ENSURED FOR THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION. TAM AND LEE WERE QUOTED AS SAYING AFTER THE DISCUSSION THAT THE MAINLAND SIDE POSSESSED ENOUGH DATA ABOUT THE PLANT AND WERE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE CONCERNS OF HONG ONG RESIDENTS' THEY BELIEVED THAT THE MAINLAND WOULD WORK OUT A SATISFACTORY PLAN FOR SAFETY AT THE PLANT. ZHOU PING AND LI HOU CO-HOSTED A BANQUET FOR THE GROUP ON 19 SEPTEMBER.
4. THE MISSION HELD TALKS ON 18 AND 19 SEPTEMBER WITH RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. MARIA TAM SAID THE GORUP HAD GAINED SOME IDEA OF CHINA'S NUCLEAR POWER AND ATOMIC ENERGY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THESE TALKS. SHE BELIEVED THE PLEDGE MADE BY CHINESE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WOULD STRENGTHEN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE
HONG KONG PEOPLE.
5. THE GROUP'S MEETING WITH VICE PREMIER LI PENG ON 20 SEPTEMBER WS ALSO WELL REPORTED. LI SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON WISH OF THE MAINLAND AND HONG KONG PEOPLE TO MAKE DAYA BAY SAFE: **THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT PLACES ITS CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IN CUANGDONG PROVINCE AND THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS AT