GINAIY
BACKGROUND
1.
Although not stated in
the Question, we believe that Mr Cook
the Daya Bay nuclear power
is referring to safety in the context
context of the Daya
project, on which he asked six questions in the last few days.
2.
to build a nuclear
power
Since Chernobyl, China's proposal
station at Daya Bay, some 50 kilometres from Hong Kong,
from Hong Kong, has aroused
widespread concern in Hong Kong about the implications for the
territory of a nuclear accident at the station. A petition urging
the Chinese to abandon the project was claimed to contain over one
million signatures.
3.
Members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council visited nuclear
installations in third countries during the summer
to acquire
information on nuclear safety. They were subsequently invited to
Peking. They were assured by the Chinese Government that safety and
quality are given top priority in China's nuclear planning. The
Chinese authorities have responded positively to the panel's
observations on nuclear safety.
4.
to
The main contracts for the project were signed on 23
September; French organisations are to supply the nuclear technology
and expertise (including training of key staff), and GEC is
supply turbines in a contract worth some £250M. Since contract
signature, public interest in the subject in the Hong Kong has
subsided somewhat, and is now focussed on the price that Hong Kong
consumers will pay for electricity from the station.
the
power generated a t Daya Bay will go to
operating company's equity is Hong Kong-owned.
Some 70% of
Hong Kong; 25% of the