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the report which would enhance the safety of the plant and were
technically and economically viable would
Government
be
accepted.
In
confirming its intention to proceed with the project the Chinese
further emphasised that it had
had taken, and would continue
to take, all possible measures to ensure
the safe construction and
operation of the Daya Bay plant.
39.
concerns
Having regard to its responsibilities. for the welfare and
well-being of the people of Hong Kong Her Majesty's Government
conveyed the
expressed in Hong Kong to the Chinese
Government on several occasions
Following discussions with the
other Governments concerned in the project Her Majesty's Government
is confident that every effort will be made to ensure that the
construction, operation and management of the Daya Bay plant will be
carried out to the highest possible safety standards.
40.
The contracts with the British and French companies supplying
equipment for the plant, and the related loan agreements, were
signed in Peking on 23 September. Since then attention in Hong Kong
has focussed largely on the safety and tariff aspects which were
debated again in the Legislative Council on 15 October.
On this
occasion the Council passed a motion requesting the Hong Kong
Government to provide "details of the arrangements regarding safety
and tariff for the purchase of electricity from the Daya Bay nuclear
power
documents as do not
breach commercial confidentiality and to explain whether or not such arrangements will sufficiently safeguard the long term interests of the Hong Kong people". A report containing this information was
plant, together with
issued on 10 November.
such
supporting
41.
The Hong Kong Government is now engaged, with the help of the
United Kingdom Atomic Eenrgy Authority, in drawing up contingency
plans which would
implemented in the unlikely event of an
incident occurring at Day a Bay.
In this regard a programme to
be
monitor background radiation is being prepared so that any change in
the levels
of
radiation
in Hong Kong,
commissioning of the Daya Bay plant, will be
the
subsequent to
detected immediately.
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has also been retained to
carry
out
a
risk assessment
study and a
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of programme
public