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134732 MDHIAN 5507
4. IN THE EVENT OF A LEAK, HKNIC WILL ISSUE THE AGREED DEFENSIVE STATEMENT (MY TELNO 3668) AND FOLLOW UP AS SOON APRACTICABLE WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE. HOWEVER, SINCE WE GATHER THAT THE RELEVANT PROJECT STAFF ARE AWAY FOR THE CHINESE NATIONAL DAY HOLIDAYS A PRESS CONFERENCE CANNOT IN ANY CASE BE ARRANGED BEFORE MONDAY / 5 OCTOBER.
5.
WHICHEVER WAY THE NEWS BREAKS WE PROPOSE TO HAVE
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A WORD WITH MR WONG PO-YAN OURSEVLES BEFOREHAND IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM A STEER AND REASSURANCE. SIR J CATER WILL MEET GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO AGREE A QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF.
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6. WE HAVE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY THE HKG'S POSITION. WE PROPOSE CONFINE OURSELVES IN PUBLIC TO SAYING THAT WE HAVE ASKED HKNIC TO SUBMIT A FULL REPORT ON THESE DEVELOPMENTS. WE SHALL TRY TO PERSUADE HKNIC TO PUBLISH THIS REPORT, AND IF UNSUCCESSFUL WOULD PROPOSE TO RELEASE IT (OR A SUMMARY OF IT) OURSELVES. IN DEFENSIVE BRIEFING, WE WOULD REITERATE THAT THE ROLE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TO SATISFY ITSELF THAT THOSE INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND OPERATING THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SAFETY STANDARDS: THAT STRINGENT CONTROL MEASURES ON SITE HAVE ENABLE A DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN TO BE DETECTED: AND THAT WE HAVE STRESSED THE NEED FOR ANY REMEIDAL MEASURES TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE ORIGINAL TECHNICAL AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. WE WILL ADVISE OMELCO MEMBERS, WHO WILL INEVITABLY BE DRAWN INTO THE ENSUING INQUEST, TO ADOPT A SIMILAR LINE.
7. EXCO WAS BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENTS ON 30 SEPTEMBER. MEMBERS EXPRESSED GREAT CONCERN. THOSE WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF LEGCO, ALL OF WHOM WERE PROMINENT IN HELPING TO DEFUSE LAST YEAR'S CONTROVERSY, WERE CLEARLY AND UNDERSTANDABLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP. ALL AGREED THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO ENSURE THAT A PRESS STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY GNPJVC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WILSON
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