CONFIDENTIAL
121041 MDLIA 490
4.
WE HAVE, HOPEFULLY, REACHED A LARGE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT ON MOST OF THESE ISSUES AND AIM TO RESOLVE MOST OF THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES BY CORRESPONDENCE. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
REMAINING ARE :-
(A) HOW QUICKLY AND DIRECTLY WE WILL RECEIVE INITIAL NOTIFICATION AND FOLLOW UP REPORTS OF AN EMERGENCY:
(B) WHETHER THEY SHOULD MONITOR AND CERTIFY ALL FOOD, LIVESTOCK AND WATER IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG, AND NOT JUST THAT ORIGINATING FROM WITHIN 50KM FROM THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION: AND
(C) HOW MUCH CONTROL THEY WILL SEEK TO EXERT ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US AND WHAT CONDITIONS THEY WILL ATTACH TO ITS DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC.
5. WE PROPOSED THAT THE NEXT ROUND OF MEETING SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN GUANGZHOU IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 13 APRIL OR, IF THAT WERE NOT POSSIBLE, THE FOLLOWING WEEK. THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECORD OF THE FOURTH MEETING, ALONG WITH OUR PROPOSALS FOR THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED. WE HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE APRIL TALKS COVER:
''STANDBY, PLANT AND SITE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND OTHER INCIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE CLASSIFIABLE ON THE 0-7 POINT INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR EVENT SCALE, THE HANDLING OF RUMOURS, ENQUIRIES AND CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC, THE PRESS AND POLITICIANS, AND TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS, DISCUSSION, INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION IN NORMAL TIMES."
6. WE THINK THAT WE MUST NOW AIM TO CLEAR UP ANY OUTSTANDING OFF-SITE ISSUES AND START DISCUSSION OF ON-SITE ISSUES AT THE APRIL MEETING. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF PEKING COULD THANK CHEN FOR HIS EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF AND POINT OUT THAT WE THINK THEY WERE EFFECTIVE. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF PEKING COULD PRESS CHEN TO HELP SECURE AN EARLY DATE FOR OUR APRIL MEETING: WE WISH TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE BEGIN TO DISCUSS ON-SITE EMERGENCIES AND TRY TO BRING OUR EXPERT TALKS TO A CLOSE.
PATTEN
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