GS1 BAD
BACKGROUND
1.
Mr Cook has asked six questions in the last few days on the
Daya Bay nuclear power project.
2.
Since Chernobyl, China's proposal to build a nuclear power
station at Daya Bay, some 50 kilometres from Hong Kong, has aroused
widespread concern in Hong Kong about the implications for the
territory of a nuclear accident at the
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
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.
£250M.
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 to
supply turbines in a contract worth some
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 foom the station.
Some 70% of
the power generated at Daya
Daya Bay will go to Hong Kong; 25% of the
operating company's equity is Hong Kong-owned.
5.
The one "opposing" representation referred to in the reply
was from Hong Kong link, a London-based pressure group on Hong Kong
issues, which has links
links with Hong Kong students
in the UK, to which
Mr Renton replied.