RESTRICTED
ENQUIRY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT, SINCE THE PLANT WILL NOT BE LOCATED IN HONG KONG, BUT IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA.
4. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT WITH.
THE UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY, MENTIONED
ABOVE, COVERS SAFETY IN TERMS OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE
RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHINESE AND
FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF INTENT
REGARDING A NUCLEAR SAFETY CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME, WHICH
PROVIDES FOR THE PRODUCTION BY THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR
POWER JOINT VENTURE COMPANY (WHICH IS TO OPERATE THE
PLANT) OF REPORTS ON SAFETY MEASURES. ELECTRICITE DE
FRANCE (THE FRENCH POWER UTILITY) AND FRAMATOME, THE
CONTRACTOR SUPPLYING THE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR THE
PLANT, ARE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THESE REPORTS. THERE IS THUS
A STRONG INDEPENDENT INPUT INTO THE ASSESSMENTS WHICH ARE
TO BE MADE OF THE SAFETY OF THE PLANT.
5852 1
5. AS YOU WILL KNOW, THE MAIN CONTRACTS FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT WERE SIGNED ON 23 SEPTEMBER.
I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE ANSWERS GIVEN ABOVE FULLY
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ALL
REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG
PEOPLE IN SO FAR AS THE DAYA BAY PROJECT IS CONCERNED.
ON A MORE GENERAL NOTE, I SHOULD ADD THAT HER MAJESTY'S
GOVERNMENT HAVE FOLLOWED CLOSELY THE DEBATE IN HONG KONG
ENDS
HOWE
ON DAYA BAY, AND HAVE STRESSED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
THE NEED FOR THEM TO TAKE STEPS TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF
HONG KONG PEOPLE. ON THE BASIS OF OUR EXCHANGES WITH
SENIOR CHINESE LEADERS AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THEY HAVE
MADE ON SAFETY MATTERS, WE ARE SATISFIED THAT THEY ARE
APPROACHING THESE MATTERS WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS,
AND THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD ACCORDINGLY GO AHEAD.
OCMIAN 5852
GUANGDONG
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