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GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKINC
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2084
OF 0400237 NOVEMBER 36
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
Confidential
HKK 166/1
RECEIVED IN AT
1 1 NOV 1986
DESK OFFICIA
Либралт
HONG KONG TELNO 3549 AND YOUR FERRO 2443 TO HONG KONG KEDAYA BAY? NUCLEAR THIRD PARTY LIABILITY
1. WE AGREE IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG TO ESTABLISH WITH THE CHINESE. SOME CHANNEL OF REDRESS WHICH WOULD EXIST FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE, EVEN IF IN PRACTICE THE AMOUNTS OF
COMPENSATION THEY COULD EXPECT DE SMALL.
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2. THE ISSUE WILL NEED CAREFUL HANDLING WITH THE CHINESE. IT WOULD
BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO INTIMATE THAT WE DOUBTED THEIR ABILITY TO
RUN DAYA BAY SAFELY. ONE WAY IN WHICH TO PAISE THE SUBJECT WOULD BE
TO POINT OUT THAT, SINCE CHINA IS NOT A PARTY TO THE PARIS CONVENTION OF THIRD PARTY LIABILITY IN THE FIELD OF NUCLEAR ENERGY (1960), HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE THE PEASSURANCE WHICH
NORMALLY WOULD GO WITH THIS CONVENTION. IT WOULD BE MOST USEFUL IF
THE CHINESE WOULD CONSIDER SOME OTHER FORM OF REASSURANCE WHICH
COULD BE MADE PUBLIC IN HONG KONG.
3. ON MODALITIES, WE IMAGINE WE WOULD EVENTUALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS UP WITH THE MINISTRY OF NUCLEAP INDUSTRY. HOWEVER THE DETAILED GROUND WORK COULD BEST BE DONE IN HONG KONG, WITH ECONOMIC SERVICES
BRANCH TAKING THE LEAD.
NONA REPORTED ON 25 OCTOBER THAT DAYA EAY HAD TAKEN OUT AN
INSURANCE POLICY WITH THE PEOPLE'S INSURANCE COMPANY OF CHINA WHICH
WILL COVER CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION, PROPERTY, TRANSPORTATION, VEHICLES AND OWNER'S AND PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES'.
IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO EXPLORE WITH THE CHINESE WHAT EXACTLY WOULD BE
COVERED BY OWNER'S AND PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES'. HONG KONG MIGHT
FIND THIS REPORT A USEFUL PEG ON WHICH TO HANG THEIR INITIAL
APPROACH. NO DOUBT THEY CAN DISCUSS THE POSITION FIRST THE J.V.C.
EVANS
PEHPAN 1099
GUANGDONG
[COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING STREET]
LIMITED
HKD
FED
NED
TRED
PUSD(MR CROWLEY)
WED
PS
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR WILSON
MR SLATER
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
Confidential
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