DIVISION. DTI
ID:071-828-7284
01 MAR '93
9:50 No.007 P.04
4. Hong Kong lies within the emergency planning zone of Daya Bay
Nuclear Power Station. It obtains 75% of its water, 34% of
its fresh foodstuffs, 84% of its livestock and poultry, and
49% of its milk from China. It is essential that Hong Kong
should be
immediate information on all
standby/plant/on-site and off-site incidents. Without such
warning, it would be too late for Hong Kong to implement
necessary counter-measures.
given
full and
too
late
5.
It is
cause a
even
for concern therefore that in the talks that
have taken place the Chinese side have hitherto said that
they are only able to discuss off-site emergencies, and that
in those cases they are not prepared to transmit
information to Hong Kong unless they decide that the
emergency will pose a serious threat to Hong Kong
to Hong Kong and have
obtained clearance from the central government. The IAEA
Convention makes clear that any information which may (not
just will) have a trans-boundary effect has to be notified
promptly.
6.
The UK hopes that the Chinese side can take these concerns
seriously. If adequate arrangements are not in place soon
there are likely to be serious political problems in Hong
Kong. The paper the Hong Kong authorities presented at
at the
first round of talks in June 1992 lists the areas
agreement is sought.
where
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